Cayetano pushes for stronger enforcement of standards across DPWH
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano pushed for stronger and more consistently enforced standards across the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), covering not only the design and construction of roads and bridges but also road safety, labor practices, and public accessibility.
During the DPWH budget briefing, Cayetano said the agency needs to strengthen its standards as regional and district offices take on greater autonomy in implementing infrastructure projects.
“I think the number one role of the Bureau of Design in the central office is really to develop and enforce the standards. Standards for roads, standards for bridges… I just want you to know whether it’s the building code or the bureaus, I think they’re needed,” he said.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged gaps not only in the development of standards but also in their implementation across the agency.
“We are definitely looking at it and we want to strengthen the standards. From a small issue as road signs. We have some semblance of standards. But again, the implementation is really lacking,” Dizon said.
Cayetano also sought to expand the discussion beyond engineering specifications, saying standards should also protect the workers involved in building public infrastructure.
He recalled his previous discussions with former Secretary Manuel Bonoan on the Engineering and Administrative Overhead (EAO), a portion of infrastructure project costs intended to cover indirect operational expenses, including a proposal to ensure that construction workers receive their required social welfare benefits.
“Let’s do something [para sa mga] ordinaryong manggagawa. I don’t think it will be very difficult for the districts across the country to come up with a checklist [of] labor standards,” Cayetano said.
“I think makakatulong ito sa lahat ng manggagawa,” he added.
Cayetano also raised the need to make new road developments more responsive to how the public actually uses them. He asked whether the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) would have bike lanes, but Dizon said these were not included in the current design.
Cayetano urged DPWH to consider bike lanes and sidewalks in major new road developments, particularly as the LLRN is being presented as an environmentally oriented project. He also suggested providing covered areas where motorcycle riders could take shelter during heavy rains, noting the lack of places for motorists to seek cover during bad weather.
“If we don’t require it [and] we don’t build it, they won’t come,” Cayetano said.
Filipino Version
Cayetano iginiit ang mas matibay na standards sa DPWH
Iginiit ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang mas matibay at pare-parehong pagpapatupad ng mga pamantayan sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), mula sa disenyo at konstruksyon ng mga kalsada at tulay hanggang sa road safety, labor practices, at accessibility para sa publiko.
Sa budget briefing ng DPWH, sinabi ni Cayetano na kailangang palakasin ng ahensya ang mga pamantayan nito habang mas binibigyan ng awtonomiya ang mga regional at district office sa pagpapatupad ng mga infrastructure project.
“I think the number one role of the Bureau of Design in the central office is really to develop and enforce the standards. Standards for roads, standards for bridges… I just want you to know whether it’s the building code or the bureaus, I think they’re needed,” wika ni Cayetano.
Sinang-ayunan naman ni Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon ang pangangailangang palakasin ang standards sa ahensya, at kinilala ang mga kakulangan sa pagpapatupad nito.
“We are definitely looking at it and we want to strengthen the standards. From a small issue as road signs. We have some semblance of standards. But again, the implementation is really lacking,” wika ni Dizon.
Pero para kay Cayetano, hindi dapat hanggang engineering at disenyo lamang ang usapin ng standards. Dapat din aniyang may malinaw na pamantayan para maprotektahan ang mga manggagawang nagtatrabaho sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno.
Binalikan ni Cayetano ang dati nilang pag-uusap ni former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan tungkol sa Engineering and Administrative Overhead (EAO) o ang bahagi ng gastos sa infrastructure projects na ginagamit para sa mga indirect operational expenses.
Isa sa mga mungkahi niya noon ang pagtiyak na natatanggap ng mga construction worker ang kanilang mga kinakailangang social welfare benefits.
“Let’s do something [para sa mga] ordinaryong manggagawa. I don’t think it will be very difficult for the districts across the country to come up with a checklist [of] labor standards,” sabi ni Cayetano.
“I think makakatulong ito sa lahat ng manggagawa,” dagdag niya,
Samantala, iginiit din ng Minority Leader na dapat mas isaalang-alang sa mga bagong road project kung paano talaga ginagamit ng publiko ang mga kalsada.
Tinanong niya si Dizon kung may bike lanes ang Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN), pero sinabi ng kalihim na wala itong bike lanes sa kasalukuyang disenyo.
Hinimok ni Cayetano ang DPWH na isama ang bike lanes at sidewalks sa malalaking road projects, lalo na’t inilalarawan ang LLRN bilang isang environmentally oriented project.
Iminungkahi rin niya ang pagkakaroon ng mga covered area kung saan maaaring sumilong ang mga motorcycle rider at iba pang motorista kapag malakas ang ulan.
“If we don’t require it [and] we don’t build it, they won’t come,” wika ng senador.
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