Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Acting Secretary Roger Mercado urged DPWH officials to set action priorities not only in major growth areas but also in the depressed and isolated areas.
“The DPWH must continue the program in connecting the dots between progressive cities and provinces with areas that are not yet able to reap the benefits of commerce, business and trade,” Mercado said during the Unified Directors Meeting hosted by DPWH Regional Office XI in Davao City.
“We need to maximize the utilization of resources most especially for projects that have optimum result and impact to the lives of the people.”
The public works chief emphasized the need to maximize the utilization of resources most especially for projects that have optimum result and impact to the lives of the people not only in major growth areas but also in the depressed and isolated areas.
The meeting – participated by all the Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Directors from Regions, Unified Project Management Offices, Bureaus and Services, served as venue to take a closer look on how the agency perform in the month of November and have an outlook of what would be the overall performance for the 2021.
In the revisit of accomplishments, a wide range of concerns were also tackled with focus on how DPWH can further improve the agency performance.
As the term of President Rodrigo Duterte draws to a close by mid-2022, the public works head also reminded the need to carry-on the DPWH significant contribution in the country’s socio-economic growth by preparing ahead an updated infrastructure plan for the next coming administration in sync with the national blueprint for development.
During the meeting, Mercado also commended his men and women for keeping up the momentum even in the most difficult period of the pandemic.
“If not for the challenges and problems we faced beyond our control, DPWH could have achieved more.”
“I know that if not for the challenges and problems we faced beyond our control, DPWH could have achieved more. For what the Department has accomplished, you more than me deserves a pat on the back,” he concluded.
