NAVAL. Biliran -- A total of P1.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects are up for implementation this year by the Department of Public Works and Highways - Biliran District Engineering Office (DPWH-DEO), said OIC-District Engineer Alfredo L. Bollido.

District Engineer Bollido said that based on the released funding under CY 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), DPWH-Biliran will be implementing a total of 112 infrastructure projects such as road widenings along the Biliran Circumferential Road (BCR), slope protections, construction of diversion roads, replacement and repair/rehabilitation of bridges, flood controls, multipurpose buildings and construction/improvement of roads in convergence with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Meanwhile, Engr. Rosario B. Rosete, OIC Assistant District Engineer (ADE) and Chief of Planning and Design Section revealed that the district office will also implement for the first time the construction of solar-powered water system in the housing projects “Pabahay” in the towns of Kawayan, Almeria, and Naval with a total allocation of P30-M.

Solar-powered water pumps work by converting the sun's rays (photons) to electricity that will operate the water pump. It uses solar panels to collect the photons (units of light) from sunlight, producing the direct current (DC) that provides the energy for the motor to pump water out from its source.

Moreover, Rosete said that various infrastructure projects will also be implemented in different barangays in the province of Biliran such as multipurpose buildings, road concreting, and flood controls in convergence with Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) and Basic Infrastructure Program (BIP), prioritized for funding by Representative Gerardo J. Espina Jr. of the Lone District of Biliran.

Under its Local Infrastructure Program, DPWH-Biliran DEO will also implement the completion of its standard office building in Brgy. Larrazabal, Naval, Biliran with an additional P20-M budget for this year.

According to Engr. Supremo Victor D. Sabitsana, procurement head, the district office has started its early procurement activities in October 2022 so that these projects can be implemented immediately once the CY 2023 budget is approved and released.

“We are speeding-up the process in the procurement so that projects can be implemented already during the 1st and 2nd quarter of the year wherein the weather is most suitable for construction activities,” said Engr. Sabitsana. (DPWH-BDEO)