In an interview with The Freeman recently, Bacasmas said "substandard" is a broad term and the center-island project could not be classified as such because the materials used in its construction were of standard quality.
Bacasmas admitted to the claims that the structure is smaller than the one at the Cebu South Coastal Road that is two meters wide. However, he explained that the city could not make it wider because the highway where it was built was not wide enough for a center-island.
Cebu's second district engineer Daisy Toledo said the city had erred in labeling the structure as center-island because it is more fitting to be called as lane separator.
Last month, the tip of this lane separator was destroyed when a vehicle rammed it down. But Bacasmas said the destruction did not mean the structure was substandard because any such structure could be destroyed when hit by vehicles.
At least the driver and his passengers were not hurt in that incident, said Bacasmas, adding that ruined center-islands or lane separators are not unusual.
Bacasmas said the purpose of the structure, built last April at a cost of P2.5-million, was to put the drivers away from the glaring headlights of cars on the opposite direction, and to prevent pedestrians from indiscriminately crossing the highway.
Last year, the Department of Public Works and Highways said the Talisay City government committed lapses in procedure by failing to follow public works standards in constructing the structure. Toledo, for her part, commented that the city should have secured first a structural design from the DPWH before completing the project, and should have coordinated with them at the start of the construction.
Councilor Rodi Cabigas, public works and infrastructure committee chairman, admitted in behalf of the city the lapses committed but he promised that the city would correct whatever defect, if there is any, soon after the 2006 annual budget that provides funds for such will be approved.
The vehicle that caused damage to the lane separator could not be located anymore thus, the city may have to shoulder the cost for its repairs, said Bacasmas. - Liv G. Campo