By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The Capital Improvement Project reported roughly around 40 projects totaling approximately $20 million, based on its quarterly project report during the period July 1 to Sept. 30, 2006.
The report was submitted by CIP Manager Richard Mangham to the office of Minister of Resources and Development and the Director of Bureau of Public Works early in December.
The CIP said it has continued to maintain a full workload in its stated goal of providing professional quality management for the design and construction of all projects for which it is responsible in Palau.
Such projects it said has resulted in high quality, long lasting and beneficial capital improvement for the people at the most economical price.
The report said that the CIP office continues to remain an important influence on the economic development of the country by its administration of a significant amount of the National Government’s expenditures.
"During the past quarter the CIP Office was maintaining its consistent high level of project involvement that continues to result in roughly 40 projects totaling approximately $20 million," the report noted.
Some of these projects include sewerage systems, waterlines, runway resurfacing, roads, bridges, hospital improvement, public school renovations, among others.
The report discussed issues on management practices and techniques, key requirements that continue to positively affect government infrastructure projects and other pertinent issues.
The report also discussed the involvement of private sector as CIP is still encouraging a major push toward the development of more local contractors to acquire skills necessary to undertake government projects.
The report noted that for the past six years, by far the largest single project being undertaken by the CIP Office has been the New Palau National Capitol Relocation Project.
The Project design was accomplished in 1998 for almost $2 million while the actual construction was valued at $23 million.
The building’s exterior and mechanical/electrical systems cost $6.8 million, parking lots, drainage, frontgate road and other exterior facilities estimated at $2.7 million and for grass seeding and landscaping amounted to $440,000.
Also completed over the past year were the remaining additive packages at $500,000 for water system improvements, for the connecting roads on the west and east sides of the Capitol, towards Compact Road to the west and toward Melekeok village to the east, which cost $2.8 million.
The report said that additional work such as the tele-communications and information systems for over $1 million was completed during this quarter, as well as roughly $2 million for furniture and window blinds.
The CIP noted that it is planned that mid-2007 and the Palauan artwork for the gable ends of the main buildings may be funded in the near future will install a stand-by electric power generator.
The report said that the national relocation project has compiled an investment of roughly $45 million.
Currently being maintained in the CIP scheme is the completion of the State Economic Stimulus Projects from 2005 to 2006 with a budget of $2 million.
The CIP reported that resident workers often perform the State ESP work is coordinated closely with the Governors and in many cases the work.
One of the most significant projects that has been going on in the past year is the Palau International Airport Runway Repair Project, which is being coordinated with and funded by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The actual repaving of the runway with a cost of $13 million is scheduled to be completed early this year.
Under another contract amounting to $2.4 million is the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting facility.