DPWH expects to generate 1.6 million jobs this year 

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Tuesday it expects to generate 1.6 million jobs this year.

“With the increase in infrastructure investment, the DPWH was… able to generate as much as 6.6 million jobs nationwide from 2016 to 2020,” the department said in a statement.

“An estimated 1.6 million jobs are seen to be generated from the 2021 budget of the department,” it added.

The DPWH has an approved budget of P695.7 billion for 2021.

“For infrastructure projects under the DPWH, some P317.7 billion will be implemented for its core programs, particularly, the Asset Preservation Program (P66.0 billion), Network Development Program (P124.5 billion), Bridge Program (P25.4 billion) and Flood Management Program (P101.8 billion),” the Budget department said in a recent statement.

DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said that next year, the public can expect the completion of 15,134 kilometers of road construction, rehabilitation and widening; 1,859 bridge rehabilitation, retrofitting, replacement, and widening; 4,155 flood-control projects; 17,647 more classrooms, 186 school workshop buildings, and 99 evacuation centers.

“We are confident, and we are really pushing to achieve our goal that by the end of this administration, every Filipino will be able to reap the benefits of these infrastructure projects that they very much deserved,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin