Bonoan reminds DPWH offices to ensure projects not in geo-hazard areas, no build zones

All Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) offices nationwide should ensure that their projects are not located in geo-hazard areas and no-build zones identified or certified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Secretary Manuel Bonoan said Friday.

In a memorandum, Bonoan said all service, bureau, project, and regional directors, as well as district engineers must strictly adhere to laws, in view of the department's thrust to implement infrastructure projects that mitigate disaster risk.

“Implementing offices are expected to be more cognizant of the existing and imminent hazards that should be deliberately considered in all the DPWH planning and construction activities,” Bonoan said in a statement.

“The standards of construction, rehabilitation, improvement, or repair of all infrastructure projects in all areas and zones shall be consistent with the rules determined by the DPWH, considering among others, the structural strength and climate and disaster resilience required for infrastructure projects in all areas and zones,” he added.

The DPWH secretary said the department also guarantees that all projects within the National Integrated Protected Area System are implemented in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to eliminate or reduce the risk of biodiversity loss.

Bonoan, meanwhile, said ecosystem functions and services such as drainage, aquifer recharge, heat island effect, analysis of population dynamics that would engender the requirements of solid waste and wastewater management shall be taken into consideration in all public infrastructure projects.

He added that a certificate of non-coverage or an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is required prior to the commencement of government infrastructure projects covered by the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.—Richa Noriega/AOL, GMA News