Place the DPWH road maintenance fund under the management of LGEs, Eastern Samar LGEs clamor

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 3, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The sorry state of the National Road going to Borongan prompted Governor Evardone and the municipal mayors who were present in the recently held Food and Energy Security Forum, to clamor that the road maintenance fund of the DPWH be instead placed under the management of the local government units.

Claimed to be one of the worst roads in the country, the Eastern Samar national road used to be one of the first with asphalt overlay. However, neglect over the years caused the road to be jokingly known as "the thousand lakes tourist spot" in Eastern Samar.

The local chief executives complained about the slow and delayed road repair program of the DPWH which has caused commuters too much inconvenience.

Governor Evardone said that he learned that so much has been allocated for the road maintenance in Eastern Samar but he does not know where it has gone.

The local government executives said they support devolving or transferring the road maintenance fund to the local government units to fast track the repair of the roads in their respective areas of responsibility.

We (local chief executives) are blamed for the sorry state of roads and yet the funds go to the DPWH, one mayor quipped.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is responsible for the 28,000 kilometers or 14% of the nearly 200,000 kilometers of roads in the Philippines. The 14% represent the national roads and main trunkline system connecting the major population centers.

The remaining 172,000 kilometers are designated as local roads categorized under the Local Government Code as provincial roads, city roads, municipal roads and barangay roads which are under the local government executives.