JICA to assist DPWH on bridge improvement study

By Jimmyley I. Guzman

Saturday 5th of May 2012

QUEZON CITY, May 5 (PIA) –- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will soon collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to come up with a study on how to improve bridges in the country.

In a release, DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said the study will result in high durability of bridges as well as safety against large-scale earthquakes.

“This will keep DPWH construction standards and methodology for seismic design of bridges updated and further enhance our capability to undertake inspection and retrofit large and special type of bridges along major national highways serving as lifeline road during emergencies and calamities,” said Singson.

According to the DPWH, the study entitled “improvement of bridges through disaster mitigating measures for large scale earthquakes” aims to provide bridge seismic design specifications and relevant materials.

Meanwhile, Singson created a joint coordinating committee to review and approve the reports of consultants and to discuss and exchange views on major issues in connection with the said study that will also be funded by JICA.

The study is composed of collection of relevant data, review and analysis of current DPWH bridge seismic design specifications, inspection of at least 17 bridges in Metro Manila and 16 bridges in various parts of the country to include environmental and social condition, traffic volume survey, and, design and estimation of retrofitting or replacement costs.

Personnel from the DPWH, JICA, Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) will compose the committee together with officials from the Embassy of Japan as observers. (DPWH/RJB/JEG-PIA-NCR)