GMA and DPWH-ICDEO: The Roadside Maintenance-Job Creation Program
Lopez Jaena St., Jaro district became
one of the first areas to benefit from the
Road Side Maintenance
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo teamed up with the Department of Public Works and Highways to improve the condition of the national roads all over the country. The Roadside Maintenance-Job Creation Program, separate from that of the Carriageway Maintenance, was conceptualized and born to counter the seemed-to-be helpless condition of our highways especially during rainy season where floods are most likely to occur.
The program was designed to implement roadsides and carriageway maintenance, clearing of roadsides, desilting of drainage canals, and longitudinal pipes. Also included are the cutting of vegetation along shoulders and on the road-right-of-way and the sight distance clearing removal of obstructions within the road-right-of-way. Activities like manual reshaping of gravel shoulders and carriageway, manual pothole patching, and cleaning of sidewalks as well as planting and maintaining of ornamental plants on center islands will be covered as well. Immediate response to calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes will be given emphasis.
At the same time, the Roadside Maintenance Program, otherwise known as "Trabaho, Trabaho: Programa ng Pangulong Gloria" provides job opportunities to people. According to a memorandum signed by Salvador Pleyto, CESO II and Undersecretary for Maintenance Operations, District Engineer Offices should maintain hiring of workers under the Program at the rate of one worker per 3.5 km. These workers will be rotated every 4 months and will receive P231.00 per day as their daily wage.
In Iloilo City, the Program was launched last Monday (May 15, 2006) at the Nes & Tats Restaurant, Diversion Road. The launching was done simultaneously all over the country.
DPWH-ICDEO officials with the workers
during the program's launching at
Diversion Road.
"The project involves the City of Iloilo and the four other districts in the province," explains Engr. Teodoro Castillo, OIC District Engineer of DPWH-Iloilo City. "It is a nationwide program," he said.
The newly-appointed Engr. Castillo headed the said launching and was supported by the DPWH-ICDEO members, namely: Assistant District Engineer Roberto Cabigas, OIC Chief Maintenance Engineer Mario Castillano, Planning Department Head Deonilo Jaime, Construction Engineer Rodney Gustilo, Planning Engineer Ruby Lagoc, and Norma Tianero of Materials Quality Control. Other members are Mr. Conrado Sorongon (Accountant), and Supply Officer Femma Guadalupe.
Eighteen workers, who were said to be deployed on the National Roads within the City, started clearing the roadsides that afternoon. Workers initially cleared the sides of Lopez Jaena Street in Jaro, fronting Central Philippine University. Muds settled at the sides of the road after the water, brought about by typhoon Caloy, subsided.
On the other hand, workers were busy cleaning the drainage and cutting the vegetations on the facade of La Paz Plaza on that same day. Poor drainage system attributed by the accumulated garbage within are thought to have a major contribution on cases of floods.
The project is expected help alleviate the episodes of flooding in the city and in the region as well.