The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Daryl Rose Virtudazo
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is all laid out to exploit more than P3 billion for five years or 1,800 calendar days for asset preservation and maintenance of the Daang Maharlika which stretches from Lipata, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, to Boundary Agusan del Norte Section in Caraga Region.
Dubbed as “Hybrid Long Term Performance Based Maintenance Contract,” this project started in October last year and is expected to expire on September 2020.
A total of 123.5 kilometers are covered in this contract implemented under performance-based maintenance (PBM), which is a new concept of road-asset preservation designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of road-maintenance operations that ensure that all physical conditions of the road are adequate for the need of road users over the entire period of the contract, and compliant to required service levels.
According to DPWH Assistant Secretary Dimas S. Soguilon, who recently visited the region to inspect the operations for the project, “this concept is a type of contract that significantly expands the role of the contractor, from simple execution of works to the management and preservation of road assets.”
The project is currently implemented by DPWH-Unified Project Management Office (UPMO), but periodically submits a report to DPWH-Regional Office 13. Also, a team is created by virtue of Department Order 76, series of 2016, to monitor and check compliance of the contractor with the levels of service under the maintenance portion of their contract which consists of representatives from the maintenance section of the district concerned, the maintenance division of the regional office concerned, the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) RUPP, Road Cluster I, JRUPP Consultants; and the Bureau of Maintenance.
Emigio L. de Leon, UPMO project engineer, discussed in details the background of the Hybrid LTPBM Contract during the Regional Coordination Conference held in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.
“The major item for this project is asphalt overlay which is equivalent to more than 67 percent of the total contract cost,” he said.
The program of works for the project includes the rehabilitation and minor improvement to maintainable standards of existing pavement, shoulder reformation, cross-fall reinstatement, road safety related improvement, cross-drainage improvement work and bridge structure maintenance work.
Performance based works are also included such as maintenance of the carriageway by preventive maintenance work using asphalt concrete overlay with 50 mm – 75 mm thickness, as well as roadside maintenance including drainage and vegetation.
He also said the Paypay Bridge in Barangay Poblacion of Santiago, Agusan del Norte, will be reconstructed into four lanes as included in the contract during the initial 18 months ofthe contract period; but the design for the bridge is currently in the process of finalization.
As of April 2015, 2016, the project’s actual rate of accomplishment was at 28. percent and currently expended P933,488,207.52 for 187 calendar days that have elapsed.
The funds for the project came from the Jica loan agreement.