Page:America's Highways 1776–1976.djvu/527

 Jose Lozada, Chief Engineer of the Philippine Highway Department, in which he said:

Undoubtedly untold material benefits have accrued to the Country in general in the implementation of the Rehabilitation Program. But the benefits derived therefrom by the Bureau of Public Works, particularly the Division of Highways, are in themselves invaluable and immeasurable. The wealth of new knowledge and modern practices in the design, construction and maintenance of highways, unfolded before us by the engineers of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads on the basis of their past experience, has saved the Philippine Government time, effort and expense in ferreting out suitable highway procedures thru the usual cumbersome and costly channel of ‘cut and try’ method. . ..

With a sound foundation, tempered and tried during those hectic days of implementing the Rehabilitation Program and enriched by constant associations with the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, the Division of Highways is now much better prepared to shoulder the responsibility of executing the highway building programs of the Philippine Government, especially in connection with the total Economic Mobilization of the Country.

During the 1950–1960 period, Bureau overseas operations expanded as the need increased for technical assistance to the developing countries throughout the world. Bureau engineers traveled throughout the world on special assignments undertaken in cooperation with the International Cooperation Administration (ICA), the Export-Import Bank, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). Major programs during this period were initiated or completed in Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Liberia, Turkey, and the Philippines.

From 1960 to 1970, Bureau technical assistance continued at about the same level with major programs initiated or completed in Laos, Cambodia, Yemen, Brazil, Nepal, Philippines, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, and the Sudan.

During these two decades, all technical assistance programs of the Bureau were characterized by an intensive effort to provide adequate training and selective procurement of equipment to do the job.

Mechanization has been the key to modern road construction on the scale necessary to meet the needs of transport throughout the world. Over $250 million worth of equipment and spare parts, destined for highway departments of foreign governments or for construction projects undertaken by the Bureau overseas, have been procured by the Bureau since 1930. Because timely deliveries of spare parts and servicing of equipment is essential throughout its life, Bureau engineers and administrators elected to utilize the Bureau procurement and contracting office for this service. The Bureau required factory inspection prior to shipping on all major equipment purchases.

This thru truss bridge was built with BPR assistance in the Philippines during the rehabilitation program.

In addition to equipment procurement, Bureau engineers designed or assisted foreign engineers in the 521