In the first three months of this year, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has implemented the Procurement Agreement on Bridge and Road repairs by allocating financial credits from last year for 12 projects at a cost of 50 billion riel ($12.4 million).
Its report on April 14 said the ministry plans to build 44.541km of rubber roads and prepare 2km of drainage systems and other infrastructures in various provinces such as Kandal, Kep, Ratanakkiri, Prey Veng and Kratie.
The 50 billion riel will be expanded for four projects directly under the ministry’s Department of Public Works and Transport, seven projects under its provincial/municipal offices and one under its Engineering Unit.
“Until March 31, the Ministry has implemented the Procurement Agreement on Bridge and Road repairs which will use financial credits from last year for 12 projects. Of these, five have already been approved by the Ministry of Economy and Finance while another seven are under review,” it said.
Ministry spokesman Vasim Sorya told The Post on Wednesday that the report represents transparency in the way the ministry carries out its functions after receiving approval from the Ministry of Economy and Finance to implement the projects funded by the previous year’s credit.
He said generally, the ministry’s Procurement Unit will prepare plans that will be adjusted during each three-month review. “The adjustments are duly documented and helps us conduct comparisons on effective work flows and to facilitate follow-ups with our partners,” he said.
Sim Sorya said this three-month report is just a first-step to indicate the bridge and road repairs that will be carried out throughout the Kingdom this year. After this, each project will be handed over to qualified firms that win the projects.
Institute for Road Safety director Kong Ratanak said previously, he hardly received any notification from the ministry about projects it plans to implement.
He said when the ministry informs the public of the specific project and the cost involved, it is a good step in transparency and shows responsibility in managing taxpayers money.
“At least, we know how much is spent for a particular road and can do a quality comparison as it involves an evaluation of the work that the builder has carried out. Best of all, we can follow up on the work to ensure we get the quality that is paid for,” he said.
