The Bicol Regional Project Monitoring Team (RPMT) of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee inspected three vital projects of the national government in Catanduanes in its mandate to ensure effective implementation of the projects, discuss implementation issues, and give recommendations.
Monitored by the RPMT members on March 26-27, 2025 were the Expansion and Improvement of Imelda Boulevard being implemented by the Department of the Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the National Irrigation Authority’s Macutal Communal Irrigation System in Baras, and the Free For All WiFi Program of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) in Catanduanes.
Approved under the Convergence and Special Support Program Leading to Seaports – KATUPARAN of the DPWH, the boulevard extension project involves the construction of a 5,025.21-lineal meter road, including a 242.4-meter bridge and 254.30-meter seawall, and is 94.75 percent complete as of February 2025.
Upon completion, the project will serve as a mitigating structure to reduce the impact of storm surge during typhoons. It will likewise be utilized as an alternative road to and from the municipality of Virac and provide access to tourism sites in the province.
The repair and restoration of Macutal Communal Irrigation System in Baras involves the repair and rehabilitation of diversion, canalization, and canal structure works of the four main canals, a 0.42-kilometer proposed concrete lateral canal, and improvement of two existing dams that will cater to 39.7581 hectares of irrigation and farming area in barangays Macutal, Rizal, Caragumihan, part of Nagbarorong and Bagong Sirang.
As of March 15, 2025, the project is 86.63 percent complete but incurred a negative slippage of 1.70 percent. The project will address the Bicol Regional Development Plan’s aim to increase irrigated areas by constructing new small irrigation projects, and rehabilitating/repairing and restoring existing irrigation systems.
On the other hand, the Free For All WiFi Project in barangay Calatagan Tibang in Virac is operational, particularly at the barangay hall, which provides the community and the students with WiFi access for educational and communication purposes, subject to the barangay’s restrictions on time, age, and online websites.
The RPMT recommended that the DICT strictly monitor and maintain an inventory of the operation and maintenance activities on the installed equipment.