Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB1 ) representatives for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mr. Samuel C. Songcuan (right, in stripes), Department of Public Works and Highways Engineer Vilmaflor G. Gascon (right) and Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) IBUILD Component Head Engineer Eleanor Blanco (left, in stripes) thoroughly inspected the design of the Balecbec-Basca Farm to Market Road and Balecbec Bridge with La Union Provincial Engineer Elizabeth P. Sias (left, seated) during the 4th RPAB meeting. RPAB 1 issues re-approval for La Union Pilot IBUILD Subproject
The Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB 1) issued re-approval for the La Union pilot Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (IBUILD) subproject during the 4th RPAB Meeting on March 18, 2015 at PLGU Training Center, San Fernando City, La Union.
The World Bank required an RPAB re-approval for the La Union pilot IBUILD subproject to accommodate its recommendations after the 4-5 February 2014 World Bank Review Mission in Luzon A Cluster.
The 7.92-kilometer Rehabilitation of the Balecbec-Basca Farm to Market Road (FMR) and 30-lineal meter Belecbec Bridge, which are the La Union’s pilot IBUILD Subprojects, were previously approved by the RPAB 1 on25 July 2014.
Among the recommendations of the World Bank IBUILD consultants are the inclusion of slope protection in the design of the FMR and the construction of detour.
With the new design specifications, the original estimated subproject cost of P 74.3 million is now P122 million.
The almost 50 million-increase in the estimated subproject cost is brought about by the 550% increase in masonry. Prior to the World Bank review, the masonry requirement of the subproject is 2,000 cubic meters. Now, the masonry requirement is 13,000 cubic meters.
Further, the RPAB members requested to visit the subproject site to know more about the subproject. The site visitation for the RPAB members is agreed to be scheduled on April 2015.
The RPAB Members and representatives present during the meeting were: Department of Agriculture (DA) RFO 1 Regional Executive Director and RPAB Chairman Valentino C. Perdido, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Director Homer P. Tobias, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Samuel C. Songcuan, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Gil C. Fernandez, and Department of Public Works and Highways Engineer II Vilmaflor G. Gascon. (See photo above from left to right.)
Upon the re-approval of the RPAB, IBUILD La Union will await the re-issuance of No Objection Letter 1 (NOL 1) by the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO).
Prior to the World Bank review, the NPCO issued NOL 1 on 14 November 2015 for the subproject which prompted the commencement of a procurement process. In the middle of the subproject’s bid evaluation, the World Bank issued a list of recommendations. Meanwhile, the bid evaluation resolved to recommend failure of bidding.
