DOTr pushes reduction of subterranean ROW to boost safer underground infrastructure
THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) proposed on Thursday the reduction of the minimum depth for subterranean right of way (ROW) from 50 meters to 15 meters, a change aimed at allowing the construction of more underground infrastructure while enhancing safety.
During the Senate committee hearing on the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 10752, or the ROW Act, Transportation Assistant Secretary Leonel de Velez said the proposed adjustment will result in better infrastructure planning and development, especially for mass transport systems such as subways.
âThe depth of our subterranean infrastructure doesnât matter as much for utilities like electricity or gas, but itâs critical when we need to evacuate live passengers. Evacuating people from 50 meters below groundâequivalent to around 18 storiesâis far more challenging than from 15 meters,â de Velez explained.
The goal is to ensure that in emergencies, passengers can be evacuated within 6 to 10 minutes.
De Velez added that the proposed amendment also aligns with international practices, citing Singapore, Finland, and Montreal as prime examples of countries with successful subterranean infrastructure at shallower depths.
Singapore has set its subterranean ROW at 30 meters, while Helsinki and Montreal have implemented 6-meter and 10-meter standards, respectively.
De Velez noted that the Philippines aims to follow suit as it prepares for the expansion of subway systems in Metro Manila and Cebu, as well as upcoming projects like the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 4, Alabang-Zapote Secondary Line, and the Mindanao Railway.
RPVARA IRR out by October, butâ¦
The discussion also highlighted the challenges surrounding the valuation of land for ROW acquisition.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary for Legal Services Anne Sharlyne G. Lapuz pointed out that the current ROW acquisition process, which can take up to two years, is fraught with delays due to limited funding and bureaucratic hurdles.
The validity of funds under a cash-based budget system and the reliance on the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) complicate the process further, she said.
However, she expressed optimism that the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA) could address some of these issues.
This law, once fully implemented, will standardize property values across government agencies, thereby reducing the need for independent appraisals and speeding up the ROW acquisition process.
âWith a standardized value, we could significantly lower costs and shorten timelines,â she said, though she noted that the lawâs implementation is still pending the issuance of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
The IRR for the RPVARA is expected to be out by October.
âBut the updating of the values itself will take about two years as provided under the law,â Lapuz explained.
Hence, she said the agency is now âcoming up with measures to address the gap in the RPVARA.â
Urgent need to amend the law
Senator Mark Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Works, said the Philippines has to update the ROW Law, citing the âdelays in many high impact infrastructure projectsâ that he encountered during his stint as the DPWH Secretary.
âIt was a recurring problem throughout my tenure as secretary. It was something that we had to meticulously deal with through several department orders based on the Right of Way Act every time we were pursuing a project,â he said.
Villar explained that ROW acquisition is meticulous. In fact, he said, the Radial Road 10 â a 9.7-kilometer expressway from Delpan Bridge in Tondo to Navotas City â took six presidents to complete.
âWe need to make significant tweaks to the current law in order to make it responsive to the needs of the implementing agencies. It is crucial to know how the right of way act could be amended so it would be in sync with the dynamic changes in our infrastructure landscape,â he said.
Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/08/15/dotr-pushes-reduction-of-subterranean-row-to-boost-safer-underground-infra/