TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines – To speed up implementation of projects and make sure work on these projects is not delayed by bad weather, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has set earlier target completion dates this year for projects started in 2010 and 2011 in this region.

DPWH Region 8 Director Rolando M. Asis said DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson mandated regional and district offices last January 6, 2012 to revise their present targets to meet new target completion dates set by the agency’s central office.

For current projects under calendar year (CY) 2012, the following are the target completion dates: on or before June 30, 2012 for projects amounting to P20 million and below; on or before September 30, 2012 for projects amounting to P20 million to P50 million; on or before December 31, 201 for projects worth P50 million to P150 million; and at least 80 percent complete by December 31, 2012 for projects costing above P150 million.

For carry-over projects under and prior to calendar year 2010, programs and construction activities must be completed on or before April 30, 2012.

Construction of carry-over projects from 2011 with Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) and costing P50 million and below must be completed on or before June 30, 2012, and for those costing above P50 million, completion must be done by September 30 this year.

Asis expressed assurances that Region 8’s infrastructure program will be accomplished on target and that the projects in the region carried over from 2011 will be a “hundred percent complete by April or June this year as the regional office has already provided measures to fast tract projects implementation.”

It was also reported that the national government is targeting to have all primary roads in the country paved by 2014, and all secondary roads by 2016. To date, of 1,422 kilometers of primary roads in Region 8, 80 percent are already paved, and paving of 74 percent of 1,022 hectares of secondary roads have already been accomplished.