Latest news with #DPWH
GMA Network
6 hours ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
5 national roads still impassable due to Crising, Habagat
Five national roads are still impassable due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Sunday. Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said most of the impassable road sections are in the Cordillera Administrative Region. This includes Kennon Road that links Baguio City to Rosario, Pangasinan, where a boulder rolled down a mountain, killing a pet dog before smashing a parked car. 'More or less, mula July 17 hanggang kahapon, ang report sa atin ay 13 national roads were rendered unpassable, walo na ang cleared kahapon,' Bonoan said. (From July 17 to yesterday, 13 national roads were reported impassable, and eight have since been cleared.) 'Hindi naman gaano malalaki 'yung sira na sinabi sa akin (the damage was not that serious). I am hoping that by today or tomorrow, passable na ang mga kalsada,' he added. No bridges were reported damaged due to the inclement weather, Bonoan said. Meanwhile, the Manila North Road and Cagayan Valley Road are now passable. In a separate dzBB interview, Batanes Governor Ronald Aguto Jr. said Crising did not have a significant effect on the country's northernmost province. 'Walang masyadong ulan dito noong bagyong Crising. Nakahanda naman ang lahat kaya walang kailangang i-preemptive evacuate,' Aguto said. (There was little rain here during Crising. Everyone was prepared, so there was no need for any preemptive evacuation.) Currently, Aguto said the weather in Batanes is calm. 'Kalmado na ang panahon dito. Medyo maulap nang kaunti pero sa awa ng Diyos, maganda na ang panahon,' he said. (The weather here is now calm. It's still a bit cloudy, but by God's grace, the weather has improved.) The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier reported that three people died while another three were injured due to the effects of Crising and the Habagat. The report also showed that a total of 370,289 individuals, or 120,008 families, were affected by Crising, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DPWH rushing San Juanico Bridge repair to meet December 2025 deadline
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expediting the repairs of San Juanico Bridge to increase its load limit to 12 - 15 tons by December this year, Secretary Manuel Bonoan said Sunday. 'Ongoing ang repairs sa San Juanico Bridge at pinapaspasan na namin para makaabot kami sa deadline ng Presidente,' Bonoan told Super Radyo dzBB. (Repairs on the San Juanico Bridge are ongoing, and we're expediting the work to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's deadline.) This move came after Marcos said he wanted to restore the bridge's capacity after a three-ton load limit had been imposed since May 15, after an assessment showed that there are significant structural compromises to the bridge. 'That's a test, sabi ko pag hindi niyo natapos 'yan, tatanggapin ko 'yung resignation ninyo,' Marcos warned. (That's a test, if you don't finish that, I'll accept your resignation.) The President had said more than P500 million has already been allocated for the San Juanico Bridge's repair. Last May, the Tacloban City Council declared a state of emergency as access to San Juanico Bridge, which links the islands of Samar and Leyte in Eastern Visayas, remains limited ahead of planned repairs on the structure. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DepEd calls for stronger DPWH, LGU collab to build more roads to schools
Pupils of Oro Elementary School in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte scale mountains to attend classes in this 2015 file photo. Courtesy: Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking stronger interagency collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs) to build more access roads leading to public schools, especially those in remote, hard-to-reach communities. In a proposal submitted to the DPWH, the DepEd recommended that access roads to public schools be included in the former's programming and investment plans, particularly for newly built schools that currently lack proper road access. Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the urgency of the issue by sharing his first-hand observations during school visits in geographically isolated areas. "Noong pumunta kami sa Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, nakita natin ang realidad. May mga estudyanteng kailangang tumawid ng ilog at umakyat ng bundok para lang makapasok sa paaralan," Angara said in a statement. (When we visited Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, we saw the reality on the ground. There are students who need to cross rivers and climb mountains just to reach school.) "Hindi puwedeng puro classrooms lang ang itatayo natin kung wala namang daan papunta roon. Kung may farm-to-market road, dapat may road-to-school din," he added. (We can't just keep building classrooms if there are no roads that lead to them. If there are farm-to-market roads, there should also be road-to-school programs.) Angara emphasized that roads are as essential as classrooms in ensuring that education is truly accessible for all learners, especially in "last mile" schools located in far-flung areas. The DepEd pointed to DPWH's existing partnerships with other government agencies, including the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) with the Department of Tourism, the Farm-to-Market Road Development Program (FMRDP) with the Department of Agriculture, and the ROLL-IT initiative with the Department of Trade and Industry—as working models that can be adapted for education. To institutionalize this strategy, DepEd is proposing a special provision under its 2026 Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF). The provision would require that all newly constructed school buildings have corresponding access roads, with DPWH and LGUs coordinating the immediate construction of roads where none exist. The DepEd also added that it is ready to work closely with DPWH and local governments to identify priority areas, ensure funding alignment, and implement infrastructure that enables students to reach their schools safely and reliably. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
MRT-7 Batasan construction partly blocked water flow, says MMDA amid flooding
Officials from the MMDA, DPWH, DOTr, the Quezon City government and SMC MRT-7 Corporation inspect the MRT-7 Batasan Station construction after reports of flooding. Photos: MMDA The construction of the MRT-7 Batasan Station on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City may have partially obstructed the flow of water, contributing to the floods in the area, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday. In a statement, the MMDA said the MRT-7 'constructed a manhole directly above the existing drainage pipe culverts.' 'A constructed footing wall of the ongoing MRT-7 construction was also observed, which may have partially obstructed the flow of water,' it added. Based on the assessment by the MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office, the MRT-7 contributed to the recent traffic congestion along Commonwealth Avenue due to heavy rains and flooding. 'It was also observed that access for regular maintenance of the drainage system is limited due to the presence of the MRT-7 project columns. Additionally, potholes and damaged drainage inlets were noted in the area,' the MMDA said. Representatives from the MMDA, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Quezon City government, and the SMC MRT-7 Corporation conducted an inspection in the area in light of the reported flooding. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos agrees with LWUA probe recommendation on PrimeWater — Palace
President Bongbong Marcos at presentation of the 50th Gawad Saka National Awardees and Ugnayan with Farmers on Monday, June 30, 2025 at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. RTVM screenshot President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. concurs with the recommendation of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) following its investigation into the operations of water service provider PrimeWater. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing Wednesday that Marcos has studied LWUA's report and already has an opinion on the matter. However, Castro did not disclose LWUA's recommendation as it was not yet the right time. "Ang Pangulo po ay naaral na po ang report mula sa LWUA, siya po mismo ang nag-aral nito at ang rekomendasyon po sa kanya ay kanya naman pong inayunan," Castro said. (The President already studied the LWUA report and he agreed with the agency's recommendation.) Marcos had directed an investigation into the operations of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. due to numerous service-related complaints. The water service provider had vowed to be open to any meaningful dialogue that would resolve concerns as it also affirmed it is committed to cooperating with LWUA. Last week, LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga was asked if it included in its list of recommendations the termination of PrimeWater joint venture agreements (JVAs). In response, he answered that the agency would prioritize putting water in people's pipes first. Salonga also noted that the LWUA was previously an attached agency of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the possible conflict may be linked to the previous officials of these offices. Castro had said JVAs between PrimeWater and other local water districts increased in 2019, when LWUA was still an attached agency of the DPWH under the leadership of Senator Mark Villar. For his part, Villar on Saturday denied any participation in JVAs entered into by PrimeWater and local water districts through the LWUA during his tenure as DPWH secretary. Castro clarified on Monday that she did not insinuate that Villar had a hand in the PrimeWater deals. PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. is owned by the Villar family. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
