DPWH not obliged to secure permits for gov’t infra projects

A Department of Public Works and Highways official clarified that the agency is “not obliged to secure permits” from the Office of the Building Officials in undertaking government infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, including pedestrian overpasses or skywalks.

DPWH Cebu City district engineer Nicomedes Leonor issued the clarification several weeks after the City Council passed a resolution asking the OBO to inform them whether the DPWH is issued a permit for every time it constructs a skywalk in the city.

Although the law does not categorically state that the construction of a skywalk is among the exemptions for the DPWH from securing a building permit before construction work starts, Leonor argued that since skywalks are similar to bridges, there is “no need for them to secure the permit.”

There are 18 skywalks constructed in the city’s north and south districts. It was learned that all of these were built without building permits. The 19th pedestrian overpass is being constructed along Imus Avenue, near the corner of Sikatuna Street in barangay Day-as.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has already signed the resolution of the City Council requesting the OBO to inspect all bridges, skywalks and flyovers in the city to find out the integrity of said structures, and to submit a report on whether contractors have secured building permits prior to construction works.

Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias expressed fears that if these infrastructure projects have defects on their structural designs, there is the possibility of a collapse like what had happened to structurally deficient infrastructure projects in other countries.

The Mississippi River Bridge which opened in 1967, for example, with its eight lanes and 579-meter steel truss collapsed killing nine persons last month; while the 140-foot high bridge spanning the Tuo River in central Hunan City of Fenghuang, China also collapsed killing 28 persons.

Cabarrubias said it is “imperative that the OBO should inspect all bridges, skywalks and flyovers constructed in different parts of the city to avoid similar incidents from occurring in here.” — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV