Half of P63B infra projects bid out—DPWH

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has bid out and awarded 59 percent of the P63-billion worth of infrastructure projects programmed for 2012.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said notices to proceed were issued at the end of January to contractors who qualified for 1,208 projects that recently underwent competitive bidding.

He also said that the increased spending in infrastructure in the last quarter of last year was expected to boost the gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter this year.

“Project implementation for 2012 looks very different from the previous year. With the reforms in place and changes in the procedure, we are now able to accelerate the implementation of the projects,” Singson said.

He said the performance accomplishment of the DPWH further advanced with 19 of these projects already completed and overall actual rating ahead by 1.77 percent, Singson said.

Of the total 2,128 projects costing P63.120 billion under 2012 Infrastructure Program, about 1,862 projects are below P50 million and 97 percent of this category was already advertised.

Singson said increased public construction activity was further expected to rise with the DPWH targeting to facilitate contract approval and issuance of contractors’ notice to proceed for the 228 projects costing P50 million to P150 million by end of February and 38 projects amounting to more than P150 Million by end of March.

He also reported that this early, DPWH was able to save P2 billion from 2012 allocations through competitive bidding. These savings can be used to finance additional projects.