President Aquino Lauds Public Works Department for Receiving ISO Certificate

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday congratulated the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on its 117th anniversary and for receiving an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 Certificate for Quality Management System.

“Sinasalamin po nito (ISO 9001:2008) ang di-matatawarang ambag ng DPWH sa paghahatid ng epektibo, tapat, at tuwid na paglilingkod. Kaya nga po gusto kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito upang ipaabot sa inyo ang pasasalamat ng ating mga Boss para sa mga kongkretong benepisyong bunga ng inyong pakikiisa sa pagtahak sa Daang Matuwid,” President Aquino said in his speech during the department’s anniversary celebration held at its central office in Port Area, Manila.

“Ang dating poster boy ng katiwalian, ngayon ay modelo na ng episyenteng pamamalakad,” he added.

He credited the department’s transformation to Secretary Rogelio Singson and his reform strategy of 5Rs — the right projects, at the right cost and right quality, and right-on-time implementation by the right people.

“Sa pangunguna niya, pinanagot natin ang mga tiwaling opisyal at kawani; ang mga maanomalyang proyekto naman, nirepaso at pinigilan ang pag-award. Ang mga kontratistang napatunayang nanlalamang, na-blacklist at pina-imbestigahan; at sa lalong madaling panahon, pinakasuhan na rin. Sa bidding, tinanggal ang letter of intent, na ginagamit ng mga may balak makipag-kuntsabahan; at ginawang mas simple at bukas ang bidding process,” he noted.

“Bukod dito, may clustering pa ng maliliit na proyekto para makatipid, at tiyakng may sapat at tamang kakayahan at kagamitan ang ating mga kontratista. Dahil nga mas marami ang sumasali sa kompetisyon para sa proyekto, at may tiyak na pamantayang kailangang sundin, ang imprastruktura ay naitatayo nang may kalidad at sa mas sulit na presyo.”

The department, he said, has also been able to raise the country’s road quality ranking in the Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum, from the 114th spot in 2010-2011 to the 87th position in 2014-2015.

The President further announced that he would increase the department’s budget in 2016 to approximately P600 billion or 5 percent of the gross domestic product, and reward its employees for their “good work”.

Under the present administration, the DPWH has accomplished the paving of 5,208 kilometers (km) of national roads, rehabilitated 4,397 km of paved sections, completed 3,493 km of preventive maintenance work, widened 1,577 km of roads, and constructed 520 km of highways.

The DPWH is one of the first four departments of the Philippine Revolutionary Government created by virtue of President Emilio Aguinaldo’s Organic Decree on June 23, 1898. PND (ag)