CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan (PIA)— The reorganized district engineering offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bulacan and the Provincial Government of Bulacan have renewed partnerships to jointly prepare, monitor, and assess the implementation of priority infrastructure projects across the province.
In an extensive consultative meeting with Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando, 24 local chief executives and the DPWH-Bulacan officials, the agency committed to strengthen coordination with local government units (LGUs) for all projects implemented within their areas.
“Lahat ng koordinasyon na kailangan ng district papunta sa LGU ay gagawin na po natin. Rest assured na ang mga proyekto po na for 2026 ay ipi-present na po namin para sa information ng lahat. Sa mga pre-construction meeting po, pwede na po natin i-onboard ang LGU, at least alam ng LGU kung ano ang mga project na i-implement sa kanila,” Jayson S. Jauco, OIC-District Engineer of DPWH 1st Bulacan District Engineering Office (DEO), said.
This comes after Fernando questioned the agency over lapses in coordination that reportedly contributed to local officials being linked to heavily criticized and problematic flood-control projects in the province.
“We are trending for the wrong reasons. Nadungisan ang marangal at dakilang pangalan ng ating lalawigan. Nabura ang mga parangal na natatanggap ng provincial at local governments dahil sa problemang iyan. We need na maibalik ang tiwala ng taumbayan. Kailangan nating maibangon ang sistema ng pag-go-gobyerno,” the governor said.
Fernando reiterated that the DPWH must strictly follow Executive Order No. 22, series of 2023, which created an ad hoc committee under the Provincial Development Council to study and recommend actions on flooding and drainage concerns.
He also urged all mayors to prepare their localized plan that will then be consolidated into a province-wide development strategy.
Jauco emphasized the need for an integrated masterplan to address issues and said that he will seek the assistance of the DPWH Regional Office for technical studies.
Meanwhile, Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Atty. Julius Victor Degala raised the need for five weighbridges along Daang Maharlika in San Miguel and San Rafael, and along the Guiguinto, Bocaue, and Calumpit sections of the Manila North Road or MacArthur Highway.
These weighbridges are seen as essential in enforcing anti-overloading and anti-excessive volume ordinances that affect the condition of major provincial roads.
Fernando also said that he will deny the request of the San Miguel Truckers Association to increase the allowable load volume to 35 cubic meters.
Provincial Engineer’s Office Head Engr. Glenn Reyes reported that 393 out of the province’s 572 barangays, or 68.71
percent, have requested road repairs from 2019 to 2025.
Priority areas include the dilapidated sections of Daang Maharlika in San Miguel and Baliwag City, the Calumpit to Malolos stretch of the Manila North Road, and the M. Valte Road in San Ildefonso.
DPWH-Bulacan 2nd DEO George DC. Santos assured the local officials that all projects under his office meet quality standards, refuting a previous DPWH official’s claim that provincial infrastructure projects were substandard.
For the 1st DEO, Jauco said the DPWH Regional Office will serve as a third party in non-destructive testing to assess the structural integrity of infrastructure, particularly school buildings.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Fernando issued an executive order creating the Provincial Infrastructure Coordinating Committee composed of provincial, municipal, city, and barangay officials, DPWH district offices, and non-government and civil society organizations. (MJSC/SFV, PIA Region 3-Bulacan)
