Implementation of some DPWH infrastructure projects in certain municipalities and barangays in Catanduanes could face delay if the local government units do not resolve right-of-way issues by April 13, 2026.

The warning was aired by the officials of the DPWH Catanduanes District Engineering Office last Thursday, March 12, during the coordination meeting with LGU officials at the Queen Maricel Inn in Virac.

District Engineer Vivian Biaco told several mayors, councilors and barangay captains that ROW issues have led to the delay in the implementation of some 2025 projects and could affect the 2026 fund releases if not promptly addressed.

It was stressed during the meeting that pursuant to Department Order No. 71, series of 2025, a Right-of-Way Certification must be submitted by the recipient LGUs to the DPWH for all local infrastructure projects funded under the Convergence Programs such as TRIP (Tourism Road Infrastructure Program), ROLL-IT  (Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade), KATUPARAN (Kalsada Tungo sa Paliparan,

Riles, at Daungan) and Farm-to-Market Roads.

The requirement also covers those funded under the SIPAG (Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps) Program and BIP (Basic Infrastructure Program).

The LGU officials were advised that the certification must be signed by the municipal mayor or provincial governor, as the case may be, through a Sanggunian resolution.

The document should likewise be verified and endorsed by the concerned DPWH head of the implementing office, either the District Engineer for local projects, Regional Director for projects to be implemented by the regional office, or UPMO (United Project Management Office) Head for projects of the central office.

Present during the coordination meeting were four local chief executives – Virac Mayor Sinforoso Sarmiento Jr., Bato Mayor Juan Rodulfo, Caramoran Mayor Glenda Aguilar and Pandan Mayor Honesto Tabligan II – as well as some councilors, municipal engineers, municipal planning and development coordinators, and barangay captains.

In his message, Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez said he is working for additional flood control and seawall projects for barangays vulnerable to river flooding and storm surge.

The same effort is being made to secure funding for fuel subsidies for tricycle drivers as island provinces seem to be included, he stated.

“I am not a credit grabber,” the solon emphasized. “I am only claiming the opportunity to help as our common goal is to provide a good future for the province and its people.”

Rodriguez reiterated the DPWH’s advice for barangays to settle ROW issues since not all 315 barangays’ requests for projects can be granted.

A review of the 2026 General Appropriations Act reveals that the Catanduanes DEO has been allotted a total of 44 infra projects.

Some of them, however, consist of clusters of three or four subprojects, so the number of structures to be completed are actually higher.

The list does not include one big-ticket project to be implemented by the DPWH Regional Office No. 5: the conduct of the second feasibility study for the proposed Camarines Sur-Catanduanes Friendship Bridge with a funding allocation of P86.8 million.

Under the Asset Preservation Program, four (4) projects involving the rehabilitation, reconstruction and upgrading of 4.3 kilometers of damaged paved secondary roads along the Catanduanes Circumferential Road have been funded with a total of P106.2 million.

Under the same program, the DEO will rehabilitate 1.7 kilometers of damaged tertiary paved road along the Bato-Baras road for P43.855 million.

The amount of P49.7 million is also allotted to the Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of Roads with Slips, Slope Collapse, and Landslide along the secondary roads of the circumferential road network, along with P93 million for two sections of the Bato-Baras-Gigmoto road.

Up for construction, upgrading and rehabilitation is a total length of 1.587 kilometers of drainage along the secondary road of the national highway at a cost of P53.7 million while the Baras-Gigmoto-Viga road will have the same project for 657 meters for P8.9 million.

There are two (2) road widening projects in the list: 2.564 kilometers in three sections of the circumferential road from KM187 to KM191 at a cost of P187.4 million; and 2.03 kilometers along the main highway for P59.6 million.

Unpaved sections of the Panganiban-Sabloyon road cutting across the island’s midsection, with a combined length of 2.8 kilometers, will be paved with concrete for P65 million.

A national secondary road along KM27 will have off-carriage way improvement for just over a million pesos while three critical spans will undergo major repair at P14.7 million each: Alibuag, Anonangan and Hilacan bridges.

Under the KATUPARAN program, the continuing construction and improvement of the Imelda boulevard in Virac has been allocated P97.6 million for another 232 meters for the Concepcion-Palnab section.

Under TRIP, the road near the former Japanese garrison at the southeastern tip of Bato will have a 500-meter section concreted for P14.6 million.

There are no water supply projects in the 2026 allocation but it provides for P49 million worth of guardrails along six sections of the circumferential road, charged to the Motor Vehicles User’s Fund (MVUC).

A combined P99 million under the SIPAG program will be spent for the Bato By-Pass Road (P47.6 million), Dugui Too to Hicming road in Virac (P30 million), and Patagan Salvacion to Sta. Elena in San Miguel (P22 million).

Under the same program for coastal roads intended to augment the resiliency of communities, P60 million will go to the construction of the Bato Coastal Road linking Bote, Carorian and Cagraray.

The biggest allocation for facilities is a total of P248 million for Multi-Purpose Buildings under the BIP, including P60 million for the construction of Phase 2 of the three-storey school building at the College of Education of the Catanduanes State University main campus.

Here are the other MPB allocations for Catanduanes: MPB construction at San Roque in San Andres, P8 million; MPB completion at Bugao Elementary School in Bacak, Bagamanoc, P9 million; Completion of four (4) MPBs at Macutal, Guinsaanan, Tilod,and Putsan, P20 million; Completion of five (5) MPBs at Buenavista, Banawang, Ilawod, Batalay and sitio Barrio Site in Cagraray, all in Bato, P25 million;

Completion of four (4) MPBs at Camburo, Supang, Mabini and Salvacion, all in Caramoran, P14 million; Completion of four (4) MPBs at Libod, Salvacion, Napo and Tabugoc, all in Pandan, P14 million; Completion of three (3) MPBs in Cabuyoan, Mabini and Salvacion, in Panganiban, P10 million; Completion of four (4) MPBs at Asgad, Cabcab, Tominawog, Mayngaway, Palawig Elementary School and Manambrag National High School, all in San Andres, P20 million.

Completion of three (3) MPBs in District III, Solong and San Juan (Aroyao), in San Miguel, P14 million; Completion of three (3) MPBs in Buenavista, Roxas and Tambongon, Viga, P10 million; Construction/completion of seven (7) MPBs at Bigaa, Igang, Simamla, Pajo Baguio, Marcelo Alberto, Radyo Pilipinas Catanduanes, and Camp Francisco Camacho, P24 million;

Construction of MPB at Bugao National High School, Bagamanoc, P5 million; Completion of MPB at Caragumihan, Baras, P10 million; and, Construction of MPB at Manambrag, San Andres, P5 million.