Motorists will have to bear with the typhoon-battered roads and bridges for a longer time as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) does not have money for necessary repair works immediately, an official said Monday.

The DPWH needs at least P4.5 billion for the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and flood control projects that were affected by the recent weather disturbances but there are no funds released yet by Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“I was shocked to learn that we have no money to rehabilitate this much damage. Although the DPWH has P6 billion budget for road maintenance, not a peso has been released,” newly appointed Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo said during the turn-over ceremony held at DPWH.

“The irony is that, although not a peso of the P6 billion has been released, only P3 billion is available for further maintenance and perhaps for rehabilitation work… So this is the enormity of my task,” he added.

As a result of this, he made an urgent appeal to the DBM for the release of the funds in full for road maintenance so they can also pay debts to suppliers and contractors for the rehabilitation works.

Top officials and employees of DPWH welcomed Domingo as replacement of former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. who resigned last week to focus on his presidential bid in next year’s elections.

“I hope that the work ahead will not be derailed any further by controversies and inquiries such as the World Bank and Road Board,” Ebdane said as he expressed willingness to be consulted by Domingo about his new job in the department.

On the same occasion, both the Senate and Congress leaders were asked by Domingo if they could realign 25 percent of their pork barrel to cover the expenses for the rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure in disaster-stricken areas. He said the countryside development funds (CDF) of senators and congressmen when realigned will total P5.4 billion, which could be used by DPWH.