Tacloban city: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Visayas regional office assured the public that the PHP4.77-billion Tacloban City Causeway Project will continue as the agency works to address issues affecting some of its remaining components.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH mentioned that for terminated contracts, the Commission on Audit (COA) will conduct a joint inventory inspection to determine and validate the project's actual accomplishments. The results of the inspection will be used as a basis for identifying project portions that may be continued and subsequently subjected to rebidding or proposed for future funding. The department emphasized that areas covered by the terminated contracts will be maintained to keep existing project components in good condition.
The Tacloban Causeway project was undertaken primarily by two contractors: Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., owned by former Rep. Zaldy Co's family, and LNR Construction, both based in Legazpi City. The government has already allocated PHP3.97 billion for the multiyear project through the DPWH regular budget: PHP880 million in 2022, PHP1.92 billion in 2024, and PHP1.17 billion in 2025.
The DPWH will continue monitoring the affected areas and undertake necessary maintenance activities to prevent significant deterioration and preserve the structural integrity of completed works while the processes for the project's continuation are underway. Six of the project's eight contracts have been terminated, while one contract implemented under the 2022 funding has already been completed. The remaining contract is still under implementation but has been temporarily suspended due to obstructions involving electric posts and perimeter fences.
The agency is coordinating with the Leyte Electric Cooperative and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to resolve these issues and facilitate the resumption of the affected works. The regional office will also observe applicable technical, environmental, and other regulatory requirements in determining the appropriate scope and manner of succeeding works.
Once completed, the causeway is expected to provide an additional transportation link and improve connectivity within Tacloban City, particularly between the city center and the airport. The project is projected to reduce travel time between the city center and the airport to about five to 10 minutes. It is also expected to support improved mobility and Tacloban City's continued development while providing additional protection to lives and properties against storm surges and other hazards associated with typhoons and severe weather.
