The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is faced with difficulties in the repair of roads and bridges damaged by cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” because of its old and costly heavy equipment, a DPWH official has disclosed.

In the recent convention of DPWH district engineers held at the historic landmark Manila Hotel, acting Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo said their typhoon rehabilitation work has been hampered by lack of modern equipment such as tractors, bulldozers and excavators.

“We need to ask Congress for bigger budget for heavy equipment. Most of the heavy equipment we use to clear landslides are old and obsolete for us to do fast clearing operations,” Domingo said during the District Engineers League of the Philippines (DELP) convention.

Speaking before the 250 DELP members, he also addressed the problems of old heavy equipment that are more costly in their maintenance than the modern ones.

“Maintaining these old equipment is too costly as many of their required spare parts could no longer be had, and thus have to be pre-fabricated for us by the original manufacturer, which is more expensive,” Domingo said.

“It would be more cost-effective for us to acquire new modern equipment as they are much easier to maintain and more capable in the long run,” he added.

Under existing rules, these equipment have to pass the scrutiny of the DPWH bids and awards committee to avoid any irregularities such as purchasing them to line up the pockets of some agency officials and contractors.

“This is to show that transparency is of keynote importance in the DPWH,” Domingo pointed out.

On the same occasion, Domingo said they are also having a hard time on the rehabilitation of infrastructure not only because of the obsolete equipment but due to the intense lobbying by some politicians who are asking DPWH to prioritize their respective areas.

“Nothing will stop me from doing a good job come hell or high water. I understand that the badgering the DPWH is now getting from local politicians stemmed from their desire to help their constituents and so leave a positive legacy behind,” he said.