The District Bulletin

Typhoon ‘Ompong’ Damages, no match to NE2nd’s Disaster Team DE Ricardo M. Puno commended the Maintenance Team headed by District Maintenance Engineer Celso G. Castillo for the fast and efficient clearing operations in the critical road sections along national roads that were affected by Typhoon Ompong on September 15, 2018.

“Regional Director Roseller A. Tolentino ordered all his District Engineers and Quick Response Teams to fast track all clearing operations and ensure that all roads that were closed due to landslides be opened within 24 hours. We have mobilized our personnel and equipment who were prepositioned prior to the devastation of the typhoon last Saturday, September 15, 2018.” DE Ricardo M. Puno said.

As early as Tuesday, September 11, 2018, DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar issued a memorandum directing the mobilization of DPWH Regional and District Disaster Response Teams nationwide for preparatory activities to ensure IN PHOTO: NE 2ND DEO maintenance operations on structural integrity of vital roads, September 16, 2018 after bridges, and high-rise public Typhoon Ompong hit the buildings.

Philippines.

(continued to PAGE 2)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

I :

DENR-DPWH MOA on Dredging in Nueva Ecija reviewed A coordination meeting between the Local Government of Cabanatuan City; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies; and the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 3 (DPWH3) was held on August 15, 2018 at the Podium Events Center in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. (continued to PAGE 3)

II : “Let’s take serious,

concrete actions to mitigate, if not stop flooding in Central Luzon,” RD Dong The Digmala River in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija is one of the allied rivers and tributaries of the 260-kilometer Pampanga River that traverses the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga. In recent years and up until now, heavy rainfall coming from the mountainous sections of Aurora and Nueva Ecija have been washing down silt and gravel resulting the Digmala river to overflow due to narrowing cross sections. (continued to PAGE 4)

FEATURING

USAPANG KALYE A blog on Road Safety

NEWS BRIEFS

2 TYPHOON

OMPONG

DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE

UNDER NUEVA ECIJA 2ND DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE

JCT TABLANG - GABALDON ROAD (K0156+947)

JCT TABLANG - GABALDON ROAD (K0156+947)

CALABASA BRIDGE, GABALDON - ERODED BRIDGE APPROACH

CALABASA BRIDGE, GABALDON - ERODED BRIDGE APPROACH

ESTIMITATED COST OF RESTORATION

600,000.00

ESTIMITATED COST OF RESTORATION

200,000.00

NUEVA ECIJA - AURORA ROAD (K0156+350)

BRGY. LABI, BONGABON - WASHED-OUT SLOPE PROTECTION AND ERODED SHOULDER

ESTIMITATED COST OF RESTORATION

10,000,000.00 Typhoon ‘Ompong’ Damages, no match to NE2nd’s Disaster Team (from PAGE 1...)

The municipalities of Bongabon and Gabaldon, both located at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, were heavily affected by the typhoon. Estimated total damage to infrastructure amounted to 10.8 Million Pesos and among the damages incurred were the eroded approach of Calabasa Bridge at K0156+927 and eroded slope protection and shoulder at K0154+500 of Jct. Tablang-Gabaldon Road.

Likewise, the Labi Detour Bridge at K0156+350 of Nueva Ecija – Aurora Road was closed to traffic on Saturday, September 15, 2018 due to eroded shoulder and washed-out approach and slope protection. The Maintenance Team completed the restoration works and re-opened the bridge to all types of vehicles on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 9:30 AM. “Right now, we will be conducting post-disaster survey of infrastructure facilities and make further assessment of damages in order for us to properly prepare the appropriate plan and

programs needed for the repair and restoration of damaged roads, bridges and other public infrastructures within our jurisdiction.” DE Puno explained.###

NEWS BRIEFS DENR-DPWH MOA on Dredging in Nueva Ecija reviewed (from PAGE 1...)

The meeting tackled the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into between the LGU, DENR and DPWH that was signed in June 2018.

In that MOA, the city government is in the forefront in the assessment of the major waterways, while the DENR and DPWH, along with the city government, shall collectively supervise the dredging and desilting plans in the province’s 3rd Legislative District comprising of the cities of Cabanatuan and Palayan; and the municipalities of Sta. Rosa, Gen. Natividad, Laur, Bongabon and Gabaldon.

During the deliberation, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Lormelyn E. Claudio explained that the MOA was sanctioned since the Local Government of Cabanatuan is equipped with the technology required for the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment and data gathering.

In a presentation made by the DENR Region 3, Director Paquito T. Moreno Jr. explained that their agency has assessed the present condition of the Pampanga River System (PRS) and concluded that the river is indeed heavily silted and the presence of island bars or elevated region of sediments, such as sand or gravel, that have been deposited by the perrenial flows are now inhabited by vegetation and has resulted to river meandering.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director Alilo C. Ensomo, Jr., on the other hand, supported the call to desilt the PRS to mitigate flooding in the 3rd Legislative District and to revive abandoned river channels and river restoration to create reasonable space for floodwaters.

Meanwhile, RD Tolentino said that he was not aware of the existing MOA since it was signed by former Director Antonio Molano, Jr.. He then requested to first sit down with RD Moreno to discuss more of the DPWH’s role in that particular issue.

RD Tolentino, who took the reins of DPWH – Region 3 only on July 3, 2018, emphasized that request and the requirements for desilting or dredging activities must pass through DPWH. In Nueva Ecija’s case, Tolentino stressed that the intention of MOA would indeed benefit the general public.

However, he asked the DENR and the Local Government of Cabanatuan to provide DPWH-3 pertinent data and information, like the cross-section survey results of Pampanga River necessary to create a plan and program of work that would address the flooding problem in the low-lying areas in the 3rd District of Nueva Ecija.

Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara of Cabanatuan City expressed his

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appreciation for the presence of Regional Director Roseller A. Tolentino; ARD Loreta Malaluan; Atty. Ignacio Evangelista; and DE Ricardo M. Puno and ADE Eduardo V. De Guzman of the Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office; as well as the Regional Directors of the DENR and its attached agencies to the forum. ###ads/avm

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NEWS BRIEFS

“Let’s take serious, concrete actions to mitigate, if not stop flooding in Central Luzon,” RD Dong

the Nueva Ecija Area Equipment Section (NEAES) and Bureau of Equipment (BOE) for the desilting of the Digmala River that began on August 8, 2018. This activity aims to create a natural dam or dike with three (3) meters depth and twenty (20) meters wide to lessen the volume of water that flows to nearby provinces, temporarily hold the flood water and give ample time to the flood waters in Pampanga and Bulacan to subside.

This holds true to the rest of the riverways. “One of the main reasons for flooding here in the 3rd District of Nueva Ecija is the accumulation of silt in riverbeds of our major rivers and tributaries. The Digmala river that passes through several onion-producing barangays in the Municipality of Bongabon overflows during the typhoon and monsoon seasons inundating the low-lying villages. This also contributes a great part in the flooding experienced by our nearby provinces, notably Pampanga and Bulacan” DE Ricardo M. Puno said.

“We, the BOE Director, together with the Floating Equipment Division, the Regional Director and Equipment Management Division are targeting to desilt at least 4,400 meters and one (1) meter depth of the twenty (20) kilometer stretch of Digmala River which is part of the Upper Main Pampanga River until May 2019. Increased silt deposits have already led to a decrease in water depth of the watercourse thereby increasing the risk of flooding. With this project, we are keen to increasing the depth of this vital waterway and restore it to its original depth that hopefully will reduce the risk of flooding in the area,” says Engr.

Edwin L. Lopez of the Nueva Ecija Area Equipment Section.

Taking the cue from RD Dong Tolentino, after his ocular inspections of flood central projects of the region to assess the enormous flooding brought about by the series of typhoons that hit the country in early July 2018, DE Puno coordinated with

As of September 26, 2018, the desilting is 13.38% completed and approximately 500 kilometers out of 4,400 kilometers target length and 0.5 meter out of 1 meter target depth has already been desilted. ###avm

DPWH, C.L. LGU’s Join Forces to Solve Flooding in Low-Lying Areas

In a statement, HS and former President Arroyo stated that flooding in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga during monsoon season are due to the waters coming

(from PAGE 1...)

The worsening flood situation that affects the low-lying provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga was discussed in a briefing conducted by the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) – Flood Control Management Cluster (FCMC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at the Novich Hotel and Resort in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija on September 28, 2018.

Key DPWH Officials from the Central, Regional, and District Engineering Offices in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan joined House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other local officials of the said provinces who were apprised of the planned feasibility study for a new flood control project on the Pampanga River basin.

(continued to PAGE 5...)

NEWS BRIEFS

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DPWH, C.L. LGU’s Join Forces to Solve Flooding in Low-Lying Areas (from PAGE 4...)

from the Pampanga River, which begins from the swamps in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.

A presentation on the proposed revival of the stalled flood mitigation projects along Pampanga River and its tributaries to be integrated with the UPMO-FCMC, the office that is mandated to address issues of flooding along the Pampanga River, was made by Project Manager Isabelita M. Manalo and Engr. Jerry Pano.

Several points raised during the open forum include the proposed Pampanga River Delta Project Phase II and III, the deployment of dredging equipment in heavily silted sections of the Pampanga River in the coastal towns of Macabebe and Masantol, and other possible solutions to flooding such as the construction of retarding basins as another way of containing flood waters.

LGU’s AIR SIDE Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis Pineda inquired from Bureau of Equipment (BOE) Director Toribio Noel Ilao on the actual deployment of dredging equipment in the areas of Masantol and Macabebe, since an observation was made by the Provincial Government of Pampanga, as verified by Macabebe Mayor Annette Flores Balgan and Masantol Mayor Danilo Sonza Guintu, who were present during the briefing, that nowhere in the towns that Ilao claimed where dredgers were deployed are found, and if ever, the equipment were non-operational and no dredging activities particularly in the Pampanga Bay are ever done.

Dir. Ilao, however, insisted that all dredging equipment are in operation. He said he would coordinate their activities with the local chief executives.

SYNERGIZED DREDGING IS IN ORDER Meanwhile, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Manucdoc Sy-Alvarado called for massive dredging of the Pampanga River Basin and suggested to synergize with other government agencies like the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to study on how flood waters can be used for irrigation and converted to potable drinking water.

Governor Alvarado also encouraged the DPWH to abide by the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160, that planning of infrastructure projects must be ordinated with the LGU’s.

BUILD DAMS! Rep. Magnolia Rosa C. Antonino of the 4th Legislative District of Nueva Ecija urged the DPWH to reconsider the two (2) proposed dam projects in her district, the Balintingon Dam in Gen. Tinio, and another that will contain water at the San Antonio Swamp, both shelved by the National Government.

ARROYO’s PRONOUNCEMENTS House Speaker Arroyo commented that since the intention of the meeting was to find a final comprehensive solution to the persisting flooding in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga, the DPWH and the winning contractor for the feasibility study for the Pampanga River basin flood control project, must present the concept on the resolution of the flooding, the scope of the project, and other affected areas of concern. Rep. Arroyo also solicited for the opinions of the public officials about the project.

DPWH Senior Undersecretary and Undersecretary for Luzon Operations (except NCR and Region IV-B) Rafael C. Yabut led the agency’s team, together with Asst. Secretary Eugenio Pipo, Jr.; Regional Director Roseller ‘Dong’ Tolentino; Asst. RD Loreta Malaluan; Nueva Ecija 1st DE George Santos; Nueva Ecija 2nd DE Ricardo Puno; Bulacan 1st DE Ruel Angeles; Pampanga 1st DE Almer Miranda; Pampanga 2nd DE Gregorio Audea; Regional Planning Chief Arthur Santos. ###

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NEWS BRIEFS

BIR clarifies tax ruling for employees under contract of service/job order arrangement The Cabanatuan City based Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Office No. 23B made a clarification on the provisions of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 130-2016 and RMC No. 69-2017, specifically on the appropriate rate of withholding tax that will be imposed on the payment of services rendered by government personnel rendering services under a job-order arrangement.

Chief Administrative Officer Cora C. Sunido invited BIR Revenue Officers Ms. Nemie Ann S. Santos, Ms. Sharmaine S. Lopez, and Ms. Anna Marie B. Hermogenes to a meeting attended by DPWH NE 2nd DEO contract of service or job-order employees that was held at the BAC Conference Room on September 21, 2018.

During the discussion, it was explained that job-order employees receiving a gross income of less than P250,000 from a lone payor are subjected to a 3% withholding tax for each quarter, and are obliged to file at the BIR the following: (1) Annual Registration Fee of P500 (to be paid on or before January 31st), (2) Percentage tax; and (3) BIR Form 1701 (Annual ITR for self-employed).

However, they may opt to avail of the substituted filing on Percentage Tax return and submit a Sworn Declaration wherein they can choose an optional 8% deduction rate on their gross receipts.

Ms. Santos reiterated, “I think sa situation n’yo, if you are receiving 250,000 and below, it is better for you to avail the 8%. Why? Once you avail this option, you don’t need to file the percentage tax because the 8% comprises of income and percentage tax.”

The meeting enlightened the job-order employees on its significance and more importantly is that they became more

aware of the changes made in the filing of taxes.

What is substituted filing?

Substituted filing is when the employer’s annual return (BIR Form 1604CF) may be considered as the “substitute” Income Tax Return (ITR) of employee since the information that will be provided by his income tax return (BIR Form 1700) is also the same information contained in the employers BIR Form 1604CF. If qualified, they can keep the form 2316 for their own reference or for the purpose of the following (RMC 01-2003): •

as proof of financial capacity for purposes of loan, credit card, or other application

•

as proof of payment of tax or for availing tax credit in the employee’s home country in securing travel permits and travel tax exemptions when necessary; and

• •

for other purposes to meet the requirements of various government/private agencies.

If the employee is not qualified under substituted filing, the BIR Form 2316 will be used as attachment to BIR Form 1700 (Annual Income Tax for Individuals Earning Purely Compensation Income) or BIR Form 1701 (Annual Income Tax for Self Employed Individuals, Estates and Trusts) in case the employee had other sources of income in addition to his compensation income.

Under the TRAIN law, employees are qualified for the substituted filing tax system if: • • • • •

There is an employer-employee relationship.

The employee is receiving purely compensation income only.

The employee is receiving income from one employer.

Tax was withheld correctly.

There is a Certificate of Compensation Payment/Tax Withheld (BIR Form 2316) that is duly stamped “Received.” ###mpm/pti

NEWS BRIEFS

ISO Journey Continues The Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office headed

by District Engineer Ricardo M. Puno and Assistant District Engineer Eduardo V. De Guzman together with the Quality Management System (QMS) Core Team Leader, Engr. Marlon G. Hernandez, have been implementing necessary measures to maintain its ISO 9001:2015 certification.

The QMS Core Team ensured the DEO is compliant to the prescribed systems and measures to ensure that it will be able to satisfy the upcoming audit of the DPWH Internal Audit Service (IAS) set on October 15, 2018.

Among the improvements implemented were; reiteration of

NE 2nd DEO participates in “Unified Simultaneous Tree Growing” Activity Thirteen (13) employees of the Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office headed by Maintenance Engineer Celso G. Castillo helped in the planting of seedlings at a designated site in Brgy. Marikit, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija on September 7, 2018.

The activity initiated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Nueva Ecija in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 3 was an inter-agency initiative to support the National Greening Program (NGP) of the government.

Eleanor M. Prado, CSC Nueva Ecija Provincial Director rallied all public servants for their active participation in the campaign for environmental protection and for their proactive effort in helping mitigate the effects of climate change.

Meanwhile, DE Ricardo M. Puno sent warm regards and congratulations to the CSC for the 118th Anniversary of

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the 5S Work Place Method wherein employees were reminded to apply the Sort, Systematize, Sanitize, Standardize and Sustain Principle to increase their productivity and keep their respective offices clean and organized; and a meeting attended by the QMS Core Team members was held to prepare all the audit requirements and plan for the construction of the Office Lobby where the Public Assistance and Complaints Desk will be set up as a venue for effective customer feedback mechanism from walk-in clients of the Office.

“More than the recognition, our main purpose in doing these efforts is to ensure that we are giving the quality of service that the public deserves,” DE Puno said.

It can be recalled that NE 2nd DEO acquired its ISO 9001:2015 certification on October 26, 2017.###evl

Philippine Civil Service.

“The battlecry Lingkod Bayani: Kilos para sa Kalikasan is apt for it reminds all of us to do our share in saving the environment.” DE Puno said.###avm

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

CONSTRUCTION OF LAWANG KUPANG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - TWO (2) STOREY, FOUR (4) CLASSROOMS SAN ANTONIO, NUEVA ECIJA

MAINTENANCE UPDATES EC De Luna Const. completes asphalt overlay activity in Gapan City K093+150 – K093+350 of the Maharlika Highway, Gapan City Section has been the subject of numerous complaints due to its dilapidated condition.

BEFORE

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On September 10, 2018, E.C. De Luna Construction commenced with the asphalt overlay activities specifically in the areas between Petron Gasoline Station and Primark.

As reported by the assigned Maintenance Point Person to the Chief, Maintenance Engineer, this Office, 100% of the road maintenance activity has been completed as of September 11, 2018.

AFTER

Recently, the Maintenance Team of Nueva Ecija 2nd DEO has performed manual patching of potholes along the affected portions of the said highway to temporarily maintain the pavement and solve the immediate safety or ride quality problem.

The road maintenance of the Maharlika Highway is under the supervision of the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) – Road Management Cluster I (RMC-I) and the Hybrid Long Term Performance Based Maintenance Contract for the said highway was awarded to E.C. De Luna Construction.###avm

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MAINTENANCE UPDATES

“IN THE NAME OF SERVICE�

The Maintenance Section of Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office (NE 2nd DEO) headed by Engr. Celso G. Castillo together with Gerry Bondoc, Maintenance Point Person in Gapan City, immediately responded to a complaint sent via DPWH Region 3 Facebook Page last August 16, 2018.

According to Belen Sebastian, there were potholes along Maharlika Highway in Brgy. Sto. Cristo Sur, Gapan which she described to be dreadful that it can cause accidents.

Engr. Castillo tasked the Maintenance Section Team to validate and make a prompt action to solve the complaint. Temporary patching of holes along the said road was done by the team to secure the safety of the motorists and the riding public.

Maharlika Highway is under the jurisdiction of the Unified Project Management Office based in DPWH Central Office but for the sake of public service, the NE 2nd DEO headed by District Engineer Ricardo M. Puno initiated to make an action on the said complaint.

BEFORE

AFTER

MAINTENANCE UPDATES “LET IT FLOW” The Maintenance Team of Nueva Ecija 2nd DEO conducted a declogging of drainage canals operation along Maharlika Highway, Sta. Rosa Section on August 7, 2018.

The operation was done in the different sections of the drainage canal between the Municipal Town Plaza up to the façade of GM Bank.

BEFORE

AFTER

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Asset Preservation ProgramPreventive Maintenance-Gapan -Fort Magsaysay Road (K0097+ 000-K0099+608, K0104+485 -K0107+685)

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DE IN ACTION “SUPER DE�

DE Ricardo M. Puno conducted an ocular inspection along the landslide-prone areas at the Bongabon Section of Nueva Ecija Aurora Road last August 13, 2018.

Torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Karding was experienced in the province over the weekend, and among the vulnerable areas usually affected by flooding and landslides are Brgy. Labi and Calaanan in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

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The District Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter on the latest developments and activities of the Department of Public Works and Highways Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office.

For articles, photo contributions, feedback and suggestions; please email us at dpwhne2dio@gmail.com.

EDITORIAL TEAM

DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS & INFORMATION UNIT

Allan V. Mantaring Editor

Ebdani V. Lardizabal Prince Kenneth T. Irabon Graphics & Layout Artists

Rowena E. Galut George J. Aruta Charlie L. Dela Torre Mary Grace P. Marzan Jennylyn V. Alonzo Contributors

DE Ricardo M. Puno ADE Eduardo V. De Guzman Technical Consultants

Ms. Adora De Leon- Sunga Editorial Consultant

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