The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has utilized new technologies in constructing a five-story building in the City of Malabon University (CMU).

DPWH Malabon-Navotas District Engineering Office (MNDEO) chief Aristotle B. Ramos said the structure was the pilot project for a new design implemented by the DPWH-MNDEO which incorporates the use of new piled foundation technologies and steel structural frame that are constructed faster.

Rarely used for DPWH buildings projects, Ramos noted that utilizing a steel structural frame for faster completion of projects is nothing new when it comes to construction.

“What sets this building apart from others is not by what you can see, but by the pile foundations it is set upon. It is well known that the sub-soil strata of Malabon City are mostly made of soft clay requiring deep pile foundations for multi-story buildings that usually takes months to complete even before the construction of the first floor starts. The pile foundation used for this project is called Screw Piles,’’ he added.

Further, Ramos explained that unlike typical driven concrete piles which are pounded by a hammer deep underground until it reaches a harder stratum, and a bored pile (caisson) that drills a hole through the soft strata and followed by a reinforced concrete cast inside, this screw pile is simply screwed underground using large helical threads that will bear the weight of the building.

“Vibrations caused by the driving impact of the hammer for driven piles that may produce liquefaction is avoided. Likewise, this eliminates the risk of sudden soil settlement caused by dewatering of bored holes for caisson foundation. This piling technology is significantly faster and silent compared to both driven and bored piles and significantly safer for the adjacent buildings,’’ Ramos said.

“The construction time for the piled foundations was reduced from 2 months to only 2 weeks using this method. This also completely eliminated the construction time required for spread footings saving months in time,’’ he added.

Scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, Ramos noted that it will stand as the tallest building in the campus that will give a comfortable, suitable and safe class space for all learning activities of the students.

“Building more effective and efficient infrastructures had been the continuous goal of the Department of Public Works and Highways Malabon-Navotas District Engineer Office (DPWH-MNDEO). One of the flagship projects that was planned with achieving this goal in mind is the Construction of Multi-Purpose Building, City of Malabon University (CMU), Barangay Longos, Malabon City,’’ Ramos stated.

Ramos said the proposal and planning of the project started in the first quarter of 2020 and was later on funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2021.

With the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Ramos explained that the funds for the project were released in the second quarter of 2021 as the government alloted most of the funds for health requirements of the public.

“With the cash-based allocation of funding enacted by the department, it means that the project is required to be completed by the end of the year leaving only a little more than eight months to complete the project before all funds for the project are reverted back to the national treasury,’’ Ramos explained. (Chito A. Chavez)