After completing 904 road projects in 2021, the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Region (DPWH-11) said it currently has 431 ongoing road projects and 172 have yet to begin construction.

In a press briefing here Monday, DPWH-11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz said all 603 projects are set to be completed within the year, including flood prevention infrastructures.

Ortiz said the road projects are incorporated with flood prevention strategies to “ensure quality and lasting output.”

The agency, he said, is also considering retarding basins and widening of canals as flood control measures following the recent flooding in some areas in the region.

“Over time, residential developments have increased in our region, and we have observed improper waste disposal as one reason for the unwanted flooding,” Ortiz said.

To address this, he said DPWH-11 has accomplished 1,294 lineal meters of drainage in the region.

Finished projects

On top of these, the agency also completed 211,911 square meters of off-carriageway improvement, 55,334 square meters of road protection structure, and 223 lane kilometers of asphalt overlay. Overall, these accomplishments amounted to PHP3.7 billion.

As the agency looks forward to improving connectivity of roads in the Davao Region, Ortiz cited several landmark projects that are now being enjoyed by the locals.

This includes the Tagum Flyover Project, dubbed as Mindanao’s longest flyover at over one kilometer in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. (PNA)