Construction work on flagship projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways have resumed (DPWH) in the National Capital Region amid the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) being enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In his report to Secretary Mark Villar, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said civil works have resumed at the Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center Link Road Project with the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) operations strictly implementing the construction safety guidelines issued by Villar.
To keep construction sites operating as safely as possible, Villar earlier issued Department Order No. 35 which provides the framework and guidance for the implementation of infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IATF-EID gave the green light for the resumption of some construction projects.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) under Resolution No. 34 dated May 8, 2020 also green lighted the resumption of some construction projects but with strict compliance to the DPWH guidelines.
Following compliance to the stringent health and safety protocols, construction activities have also restarted at Estrella-Panteon Bridge Project to connect Makati City and Mandaluyong City and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila which are 54% and 32% completed, respectively.
With progress of work for BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project at 51%, DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 and the contractors have agreed to follow a catch-up plan in the recovery of lost time when work was suspended on March 17, 2020 due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“The DPWH contractors are ready to take another step forward.”
“The DPWH contractors are ready to take another step forward and ramp up work accomplishment in order to finish significant components of the project particularly the Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge by December 2020,” said Sadain.
The 440-meter Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge Project is a four-lane bridge across the Pasig River connecting Lawton Avenue in Makati City and Sta. Monica Street in Pasig City.
The placement of reinforcement steel for the piers supporting the superstructure of the 565 meter viaduct traversing Lawton Avenue onwards to the BGC entrance started on May 13, 2020. It was immediately followed by concrete pouring activities to take advantage of the low vehicular traffic while Metro Manila is placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine.
The BGC-Ortigas Center Road link will be a traffic game changer as it will serve as an alternate route for motorists going from the Ortigas Central Business District in Pasig City to the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and vice versa.