As the first quarter ends, Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado reminded the top brass of the department to continue improving the absorptive capacities in their project areas so that the budget allotted for infrastructure projects will be delivered to completion at the right time with the right quality.
Acting Public Works and Highways Secretary Roger Mercado urged the top brass of the department to continue improving the absorptive capacity or financial accomplishments in their areas so that the budget allotted for infrastructure projects will be delivered to completion at the right time with the right quality.
Speaking before the 5th DPWH Unified Directors’ Meeting in Cagayan de Oro City, Mercado also asked the department’s top brass to step up efforts to “meaningfully, substantially and sustainably contribute to the country’s socio-economic recovery and development.”
“We must work together as a team to deliver more infrastructure for the welfare of the Filipino people by attaining the level of performance we can be proud of,” declared Mercado last Friday.
Hosted by DPWH Regional Office 10 headed by Regional Director Zenaida T. Tan, this fifth meeting under Mercado’s leadership was attended by the Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Regional Directors, Project Directors, Service Directors, and Bureau Directors including District Engineers of Northern Mindanao.
As the first quarter ends, “let us look back at the gains, experiences and lessons and help the Philippines start with the rebound of economy from the pandemic by pushing the implementation of much needed infrastructure program,” Mercado said.
The meeting was an opportunity to discuss how the Department can optimize its currently available resources.
Although Mercado acknowledged the major challenges brought by limited available funds in the 2022 budget for highway maintenance, right of way payment, and counterpart fund to support foreign-assisted flagship infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build Program, the DPWH management continues to look for funds from other sources within the General Appropriations Act specifically from the Special Support Fund to augment the requirements.
Mercado recently approved the release of ₱1.6 billion to augment funds needed to pursue the maintenance of Philippine national highways.
As we move forward, let us strengthen the bond that unites us one DPWH family as our action today will change the future, Mercado emphasized.
Tags: #DPWH, #absorptivecapacity, #Sec.RogerMercado, #BuildBuildBuild, #infrastucture