DPWH BREAKS GROUND FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART PMO BUILDING IN SULU, MARKING A MILESTONE IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEV’T

MANILA — In a significant move towards advancing public service delivery, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) commenced the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Project Management Office (PMO) building in Sulu Province.

Led by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain and Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan, the ceremony, held on December 7, 2023, in Patikul, Sulu, marked the beginning of the construction of a cutting-edge two-story office building spanning 1,890 square meters.

Described as a hub of efficiency and transparency, this initiative represents a crucial step in the growth of the DPWH organization, emphasizing its commitment to providing an improved working environment for the PMO Sulu Team and enhanced services for stakeholders, according to Senior Undersecretary Sadain.

The PMO Sulu, headed by Project Manager Barlie Nahudan and under the DPWH Regional Project Management Office-BARMM led by Project Director Najib Dilangalen, is a key player in fulfilling the DPWH’s mandate outlined in Article 13 Section 37 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act 11054), focusing on the funding and implementation of national roads and bridges.

Attended by notable figures including Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim of DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster II, the groundbreaking ceremony also saw the presence of Stakeholders Relations Service Director R. Del Rosario, UPMO RMC II Project Managers Lilibeth B. Rico and Olivia M. Baguio, as well as representatives from DPWH Regional PMO-BARMM and various Sulu town Mayors.

The first phase of the construction, with a total budget of ₱70 million allocated in the 2022 and 2023 General Appropriations Act, encompasses structural works, site development, and partial architectural, plumbing, and electrical works on the 5,000-square-meter lot. The subsequent Phase 2 will conclude the remaining tasks to finalize the office building project.

Notably, the Department of Budget and Management’s approval of plantilla positions and the operationalization of DPWH Project Management Offices in Sulu and five other provinces within BARMM signifies a significant stride towards the direct implementation of national infrastructure projects in the region, aligning with the General Appropriations Act and the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Further demonstrating the commitment to infrastructural advancement, the conversion of the Sulu Island Circumferential Road into a national road under DPWH jurisdiction in 2022 has paved the way for ongoing engineering activities. These activities aim to transform the old road network into accessible routes, benefiting farmers, students, and local businesses, and fostering economic growth and connectivity within the region.

(B. Cuaresma/AI/MNM)