Ten ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects in Mimaropa 

BY Anna Mae Lamentillo
May 21, 2021 00:12 AM

NIGHT OWL

Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo

Of all the places — Palawan is one of the most memorable. The first time I went there, my boat sank and for almost an hour — we clung to a bamboo pole in the middle of the sea to survive. Ten years have passed and yet — I couldn’t forget the fateful night in 2012.

It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. Every inch of the sky was filled with fireflies and stars. As you hop from one island to the other, you’d realize — each one had a different character. And Palawan, it had more or less 1,780 islands.

The archipelagic nature of the Philippines posed a number of difficulties in the monitoring and implementation of “Build, Build, Build” projects.

How do we monitor 20,000 projects simultaneously in a country composed of roughly 7,640 islands? How do we get rid of ghost projects? How do we minimize discretion in DPWH?

Secretary Mark Villar was adamant to find a solution — one that was progressive, forward thinking and feasible. First, he introduced an automated monitoring system called the Infra-Track App which utilizes geo-tagging, satellite technology and drone monitoring.

In 2019, DPWH has completed the transition. Now, the Infra-Track App is able to detect ghost projects real time as the new application plots photos inputted in the system for monitoring in the exact geographic coordinates where it was taken. The system, through geographic identification of photos, videos, and other posts, automatically alerts key DPWH officials when a project is misreported from a different location.

This is one of the many reforms initiated in the department following President Rodrigo Duterte’s mandate of increasing transparency and accountability in government.

Today, let’s explore the Region 4B or Mimaropa, composed of five provinces: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

According to Secretary Villar, Department of Public Works and Highways has completed a total of 1,153-kilometer of roads, 347 bridges, 333 flood mitigation structures, and 6,664 classrooms in Region 4B or MIMAROPA.

  1. Puerto Princesa Cruise Port and Facilities 
The Puerto Princesa Cruise Port will put the province of Palawan in the map of international cruise destinations. The 500-meter wharf and docking facility will also serve as gateway to El Nido, San Vicente and Taytay in Palawan.

PUERTO PRINCESA CRUISE PORT – Palawan will soon be in the map of international cruise port destinations with the opening of the Puerto Princesa Cruise Port.

  1. Access Road from Coron Town to Borac Roro Port
The access road from Coron Town to Borac Roro Port will traverse the barangays of Decabobo, Buenavista, Turda, Guadalupe, San Nicolas. When completed, it will support Coron’s trade industry through easier access to and from the new Port of Borac.

ACCESS ROAD FROM CORON TOWN TO BORAC RORO PORT – The opening of the Borac Roro Port is expected to increase trade and tourism in Coron.

  1. Coron-Busuanga Road
Heading to Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoons or Malcapuya Island? Explore the newly widened 72.53-kilometer Coron-Busuanga Road.

ROAD WIDENING OF CORON-BUSUANGA –Take a road trip in the newly widened 72.53-kilometer Coron-Busuanga Road.

  1. Boac Bypass Road in Marinduque
The 2.5-kilometer Boac Bypass road is connected to the Marinduque Circumferential Road and will benefit 1,985 motorist per day. It serves as an access road to various barangays located at the Boac Riverside.
  1. Boac-Mogpog Bypass in Marinduque
The 2.25-kilometer Boac-Mogpog Bypass in Marinduque will benefit about 2,048 motorists per day. It is connected to the Mogpog-Balanacan Port Road and will serve as access road to various barangays located at Mogpog riverside.
  1. Access Road leading to Simbahang Bato 
Heading to the Bancuro Church Ruins? Take the 5.564-kilometer access road leading to Simbahang Bato in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
  1. Tabigue Flood Control Project along Boac River
The 640-meter Tabigue Flood Control Project will help mitigate flooding in low lying barangays along the Boac River such as Barangay Tabigue, Poras, and Lupac.
  1. Magarwak Bridge 
Heading to Mt. Magarwak trail or the Magarwak Eco-Park? Traverse the newly widened Magarwak Bridge along the Puerto Princesa North Road in Palawan.
  1. Panangcalan Evacuation Center 
The one story evacuation center is equipped with comfort rooms, shower stalls, hand washing area, prayer room, clinic, kitchen, reception area and an administrative office.
  1. Calintaan Bypass in Occidental Mindoro
Heading to Salugsog Falls or Makatiklas Falls in Calintaan? Explore the 1.3-kilometer Calintaan Bypass Road in Occidental Mindoro.
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