CY 2010 FIRST QUARTER REPORT ON FIELD VISITS
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InfRES Projects in
Gubat, Sorsogon
The
Regional Project Monitoring Team (RPMT) inspected projects under the
Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector (InfRES) of
the Department of Agriculture in Gubat, Sorsogon on February 12 this
year.
The
Municipality of Gubat implemented two packages of farm-to-market
road (FMR) projects, covering 22.26 kms at a total cost of P 42.630
million. Package 1 comprised of the construction and improvement of
farm-to-market roads namely: Tiris-Tagaytay; Paco-Patag and
Carriedo-Manapao FMRs. These were completed on March 18, 2009.
Package 2 involved the construction and improvement of Union-Samagat,
Rizal-Nazareno, and Villareal-Tabi FMRs, which were completed on May
17, 2009. Some 4,564 households benefitted from these farm-to-market
roads.
Tiriis-Taguytoy FMR
The
RPMT reminded the DA-PMO for the immediate release of the P
7,007,909.40 for the project’s still unpaid obligations. It
likewise recommended to the LGU of Gubat to provide slope protection
in some areas of the FMRs using vetiver grass.
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Sula Bridge in Bacacay Albay
The
RPMT inspected the partially completed Sula Delta Bridge project,
which will connect Cagraray island in Bacacay to the Albay mainland,
last February 11, 2010.
The
project is implemented by both the DPWH Regional Office 5 and the
DPWH Albay District Engineering Office. The latter’s scope of work
includes the construction of the bridge approaches, Piers #1 and
#4, and the bridge superstructure. Covered by the DPWH 5 are the
construction of Piers #2 and #3, the bunkhouse/field office of
engineers, and the project sign board. The project has a total cost
of P40.89 million and is contracted to Sunwest Construction and
Development Corporation. Started last July 25, 2008 it is expected
to be completed by April 28, 2010.
Bridge Approach
Actual cumulative accomplishment of the project, as of January 25,
2010, was 53 percent with a negative slippage of 9.77 percent due to
insufficient equipment and manpower. Only one set of pile driving
equipment was used in January.
Driving of steel piles at Pier #3 was being undertaken at the time
of the visit. Piers #1 and #4 were already completed while road
earthworks were ongoing at the bridge approach.
The
RPMT took note of the non-inclusion of the steel reinforcements for
the two bridge piers in the Program of Work. The DPWH Central Office
pulled-out the allocated steel reinforcements for the two piers
because of deterioration. The materials have corroded in the
stockyard.
Also, the steel H-piles/tubular steel piles that were designed for
the two piers were found to be insufficient during actual
implementation. The soil where the two piers were located was not
hard enough and required longer piles for the project.
The
project's targeted completion date may not be achieved pending
availability of the steel reinforcements for the bridge piers and of
the Change Order request for the steel piles.
Recommendations by the RPMT include the following: (1) for the DPWH
Regional Office 5 to constantly follow-up its request for bridge
materials (steel reinforcements) at the DPWH–PMO (Manila) to avoid
delays in project implementation; (2) for the contractor to
officially inform the DPWH-PMO on the foreseen Change Order of the
steel piles to avoid delays in the pile driving activities; (3) for
the contractor to provide additional equipment and manpower to
expedite the construction of the two bridge piers (#2 & #3); and (4)
for the DPWH Albay Engineering District and DPWH Regional Project
Monitoring Office to be provided with the inspection report for
their appropriate action.
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Restoration/Improvement of Damaged Section Along
Libon-Marocmoc-Pantao Road
The project involved the restoration of eroded shoulders and
portions of damaged adjoining main carriageway with an equivalent
length of 465 lineal meters (five road sections) along the
Libon-Marocmoc-Pantao Road. The scope of work of the project
covered: a) road concreting; b) slope protection; c) bunkhouse/field
office of engineers; and c) project sign board/billboard and
construction safety and health.
Started last
October 21, 2009, the project contract is expected to be completed
by August 16, 2010. The project is being implemented by DPWH–Regional
Project Monitoring Office 5 at a total project cost of P 23.955
million.
Slope Protection works at the Damaged Road Section (Section 4)
Rehabilitation work was on-going during the RPMT's ocular inspection
last March 2, 2010. The team observed that side-hill cuts (earthfill
cuts) in some road sections (not included in the project's POW)
along the Libon-Marocmoc-Pantao Road (16.45 kms.) need to be
concreted or protected to prevent massive erosion during heavy
rains.
The RPMT recommended the following: 1) for the DPWH Regional Office
5 to source out funds for slope protection of some road sections to
prevent massive erosion of soil/debris especially during heavy
rains, and 2) for the DPWH Albay Engineering District Office to
ensure the proper maintenance of the project (e.g. cleaning of
cross-drains, provision of road warning signs, etc.).
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Rehabilitation of Irrigation Drainage Canals at Malbog River
Irrigation System Project in Castilla, Sorsogon
The
project involved the rehabilitation of the main distribution canals
having a total length of 3,334 lineal meters. The cost of the first
phase of rehabilitation amounted to P100,973.60 of purely labor work
done at earthlined canals. The rehabilitation work started last
December 2008 and was completed in January 2009.
The
RPMT noted that the discharge from Cumadcad River (adjacent to
Malbog River) partially drains to Malbog River thus Cumadcad River
can be tapped as a supplemental water source of Malbog River. The
RPMT noted the elevated drainage underneath the road section that
partially obstructs the flow of water from the Cumadcad River to
Malbog River.
RPMT members inspecting the discharge flow from Cumadcad River to
Malbog River
The
RPMT recommended for a proper coordination between the NIA and LGU –
Castilla/Brgy. Cumadcad for the tapping of the Cumadcad River as
supplemental water source for irrigation. It also recommended for
the redesign of the elevated drainage to capture the discharge flow
at the Cumadcad River. Relatedly, the existing earth-lined canals
must be upgraded to concrete-lined canals to reduce water seepage
and enhance the discharge flow to the irrigable area.
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Health Facilities Enhancement Project in Nabua, Camarines Sur
On
March 11, 2010, the RPMT visited the Department of Health (DOH)
under the Health Facilities Enhancement Project (HFEP) in Nabua,
Camarines Sur. The project has two components: (1) Construction of
Rural Health Unit 1 and (2) Acquisition/Purchase of Medical
Equipment for Rural Health Unit 1 costing P 7.994 million and P1.995
Million, respectively. The project is funded by the DOH and
implemented by the LGU of Nabua. Scope of work of project component
1 included: a) demolition of damaged structure; b)
excavation/disposal/hauling of earthfill project materials and
debris; c) concrete and masonry works; d)
plumbing/electrical/steel/carpentry/painting work; e) finishing
works; and f) construction of perimeter fence. Project component 2,
involved the acquisition of medical and laboratory supplies such as
ECG machine, oxygen tanks, and delivery instrument set.
On-going construction new RHU (LGU - Nabua)
As
of March 8, 2010, the project’s physical accomplishment was 40.27
percent as it encountered problem in the release of project funds.
The LGU – Nabua has spent P 4 million for the construction of the
health facility and has postponed the delivery of the medical
equipment pending the release of the cash allocation for the
projects.
The
RPMT recommended the following: 1) for the DOH to coordinate with
DBM for the immediate release of project funds to expedite the
completion of the project, and 2) for proper coordination between
the DOH and LGU of Nabua toward providing necessary trainings for
building and equipment maintenance to ensure sustainability of the
project.
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Tula-Tula CIS Project
The
RPMT inspected the restoration and rehabilitation of the Tula-tula
Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Magallanes Sorsogon on March
18, 2010.
Gravity type dam water source of Tula-tula Communal Irrigation
System (CIS) constructed in 1998
The
P1M NIA project was funded under the
Repair/Rehabilitation/Restoration of Existing National Assisted
Irrigation System (RRRENAIS-NDC 5), 6 B fund. The Contract started
on October 16, 2009 and completed on November 11, 2009.
The
Tula-Tula CIS is a gravity type irrigation with one unit diversion
work servicing a total area of 60 hectares. It consisted of one
2.20-km main canal, 2 lateral canals of 0.78 km. and 0.40 km.,
and auxilllary canals with 0.50 kms. and 0.90 kms., respectively.
The
Sta. Elena-Tula-Tula-Incarizan Irrigators Association, Inc (SETIA),
with 78 members, maintains and operates the irrigation canals. The
farmers pay the SETIA 75 kg. of palay every harvest as water fee
and for the operation and maintenance of the irrigation system. Part
for payment goes to the amortization for the construction of the
dam.
The
project was constructed according to design. Part of the labor cost
was provided by the SETIA. With the concreting of the main and
lateral canals, water distribution got more efficient. It lessened
seepage and avoided the making of unauthorized diversion canals
which sometimes prevented irrigation waters from reaching some rice
fields. Still, there are canals proposed for concreting by NIA to
complete the entire Tula-Tula CIS.
Among the problems encountered was the lapsed two-year term of the
SETIA officers. The farmers saw the need to elect new set of
officers for them to be able to pay on a regular basis the required
75 kgs. of palay/ hectare per cropping season for the maintenance
of irrigation system.
The
RPMT recommended for the IAs to elect their new set of officers and
to review the by-laws of the association regarding flexibility of
payment.
It
also considered the recommendation for the NIA (government) to
provide for free the cost of construction of communal irrigation
systems (CIS) and facilities as a subsidy to farmers instead of
burdening farmers to return back the cost of construction for the
payment of the loan. If ever, IAs would still collect irrigation
fees for the maintenance and operation of the irrigation facilities
and as payment for the construction of the irrigation project.
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Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP)
On
March 12, 2010, the Regional Project Monitoring Team monitored the
Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP) in Baao, Bato, and Iriga
City, Camarines Sur.
The
CSAP provides environment-friendly shelter units to affected
indigent families in areas devastated by super typhoons “Milenyo,
Reming, and Seniang”. It is a restoration and rehabilitation
strategy that uses work teams composed of beneficiaries themselves
to provide labor for the construction of their houses. The
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office
prepared the design and cost estimates (based on 2007 prices). The
design is single-detached unit with floor area of 4m. x 5m. and two
bedrooms costing Php 70,000.00 per unit for materials only.
Rows of unfinished houses in Masoli, Bato resettlement site
The DSWD is implementing the project funded from DSWD Quick Response
Fund (QRF), Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE),
KALINGA Luzon, SSS Foundation, UNDP and Rehabilitation Fund.
The
beneficiaries of this project must form an organization called
Neighborhood Association for Shelter Assistance (NASA), the funds
were deposited by DSWD CO in the account of the respective NASA in
the bank of their choice.
The
construction of CSAP in Baao, Bato and Iriga City started in
2008. Expected duration of construction for each shelter was 3
months.
The
CSAP in Baao had 50 units constructed in 23 barangays costing P3.5
million funded under the Quick Response Fund (QRF). There are 34
units completed with 16 units still on-going or with 72 percent
accomplishment. The 40 units were already occupied although these
were not yet finished. There were three NASAs organized.
Iriga City had 46 core shelter units constructed in six barangays,
of which 35 units were completed, 10 ongoing and one not yet
started or with 76 percent accomplishment The cost was P3.220
million funded under CARE.
Bato had
100 units in barangay Masoli resettlement site, 99 of which are
ongoing and one unit not yet started or 46 percent accomplishment.
The project costed P7 million funded under Calamity Assistance
Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE). One NASA was organized. As project
counterpart, the LGU of Bato, Camarines Sur purchased the lot for
resettlement site and hired skilled laborers to help the
beneficiaries in constructing the houses. The units in the
resettlement site were constructed in accordance with DSWD design
but were still unfinished. Almost all units have roofing and rough
walls but no doors and windows were installed. Seven families were
already occupying the unfinished houses. The construction stopped
after 3 months of implementation due to the closure of the Golden 7
Bank in Nabua, Camarines Sur where the project fund was deposited.
The NASA could no longer withdraw the money deposited to continue
the construction of the core shelter units.
The RPMT
observed the following: (1) some of the on-site shelters were
constructed not in accordance with the specified house design; (2)
P70,000.00 was not sufficient to finish one shelter unit due to the
increased cost of construction materials, thus, beneficiaries had to
assume the expenses for additional construction materials including
electrical connection installation; (3) there was no close
supervision for the on-site unit construction, thus, construction
duration per unit reached almost six months; and (4) no
memorandum-of-agreement (MOA) was executed between DSWD, LGU, and
NASA.
Some
other issues and concerns related to the implementation of the CSAP
in the municipalities of Bato, Baao and Iriga City were as follows:
-
funds were
unaccounted for at the NASA level since the capability of NASA
to handle funds was not sufficient and not all NASA committees
functioned as expected;
-
the closure
of Golden Seven (G7) Bank in Nabua, Camarines Sur in May 2008
stopped the implementation of CSAP in Bato. The balance in bank
was P 3 Million but the NASA in Bato could only claim from the
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) the amount of P
250,000.00. Last 2008, the LGU of Bato and the DSWD wrote PDIC
to release the insurance but they got no response. The MSWDO of
Bato needed assistance on how they can source out funds for the
completion of CSAP in Bato.
The
RPMT recommend the following:
-
for the MSWD
of Baao to require the NASAs to submit financial liquidation
report and assist the NASAs in preparing their reports and to
submission to the DSWD Regional Office 5;
-
for the
MSWDO of Baao and CSWDO of Iriga to conduct regular monitoring
of the remaining on-going shelters and to submit an updated
report to DSWD 5; and
-
for the
MSWDO of Bato to help the NASA in following up their request
from PDIC and to request assistance from DSWD Region 5 for
sourcing out other funds for the completion of the project.
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