BASCO, Batanes, Feb 11 (PIA) — Going by the recent report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), five infra projects had been completed, and 12 projects of significant progress are still on-going.

Completed infra in the month of January 2013 are: a) varayvayan farm-to-market road (FMR) in Itbayat (93.71 percent on Dec. 31, 2012); b) Uyugan flood control, Uyugan (90.71 percent as of Dec. 31); c) upgrading national interior road Uyugan to Mahatao (51.58 percent as of Dec. 31); d) Basco contracosta road concreting of shoulder with concrete gutter and guard wall (83.61 percent as of Dec. 31); and e) construction of sitio Naidi road, Basco (97.16 percent as of Dec. 31).

National roads are given priority for completion being traversed daily by big and small vehicles and pedestrians; while flood control and guard wall are given secondary.

Rate of completed infra per DPWH report as of January 2013, is increasing with five each completed in December 2012 and January 2013 against previous report of only one completed in November 2012.

Ten ongoing infra projects in progress are: 1) upgrading national road in Sabtang 89.75 percent complete as of Jan. 31 (79.63 percent in Dec. 2012); 2) Uyugan bridge along Uyugan national road 78.69 percent , Jan (75.54 percent in Dec. 31); 3) concreting Itbayat airport access road 90.81 percent (85.77 percent in Dec. 31); 4) rehab of Nakanmuan road 93.71 percent (82.6 percent in Dec); 5) concreting Raele-Itbayat airport FMR 71.63 percent (53.93 percent in Dec.) 6) improvement of Gabaldon building-Uyugan 38.79 percent (30.91 percent in Dec.) 7) Rehab a multi-purpose building (RHU) Uyugan 50.67 percent (35.58 percent in Dec. 31) 8) improvement of MPB RHU building in Kaychanarianan Basco 34.16 percent; 9) improvement of multi-purpose RHU Ivana 60.81 percent (35.41% percent in Dec.; and 10) rehab of MPB 43.64 percent (35.01 percent in Dec).

All projects by administration and contractual are recorded with revised schedule of start and revised completion date, however, completion is often delayed because Batanes is dependent on available construction materials ferried from Sual, Pangasinan. Deadline of completion are deviated and said delays are expected considering that transporting of aggregates is dependent on weather condition and available cargo ships.