Owner of lots that would be affected by the Banilad flyover construction had agreed that their properties be already used even if the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would pay them only later.
City Councilor Lea Japson, who met with the lot owners Saturday, said the latter had agreed to sign a contract with DPWH and issue entry permits with WTG Construction, the contractor of the project. The DPWH can give the payment after one month yet.
“Okay na tanan, okay na ang mga lot owners, wala na juy problema…they are willing to sign the contract anytime bisan ang payment is after one month. They are eve willing to give the entry permit once they sign the contract,” Japson said.
Among those who have reportedly given consent are the owners of the nine properties in the crucial area of construction at the junction of Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue and A.S. Fortuna Street.
Earlier, WTG expressed fears that the construction would not be completed by next month if DWPH cannot acquire the properties needed for the road right of way.
At the city council session last Wednesday, project engineer Christopher Semilla of WTG, even said that if the properties at the crucial area could not be acquired immediately, they would be a time when the would be forced to fully close Governor Mariano Cuenco Avenue from traffic when they work on the final phase of construction, which would include cementing the flyover.
Ouano said that DPWH will be giving the property owners a sample of the contract within the week for the owners to peruse.
But even if the owners are willing to receive delayed payment, DPWH counsel Agustinito Hermoso said to have expressed apprehension on inking a contract if the money is not yet available.
Hermoso earlier said the P80 million initial budget and the additional P50 million for the road right of way would be released by June 15.
Japson said the ball is now with DPWH on whether or not the agency is willing to take the risk.
At the council session last week, Semilla also said that the “peak of work” with the flyover would be next month but he assured that heavy equipment would be brought to the site only at night so as not to inconvenience the public during the day.
Semilla further assured that as long as the road right of way can be acquired, the July deadline is very feasible and that there is no cause for alarm with the progress report of DWPH, which stated that the flyover may be finished by November yet, because it actually referred to the original working period, which is 300 days.
Starting last week, WTG Construction implemented a 24-hour work schedule with 50 crewmen working in shifts.
The 390-meter flyover stretches from near the Banilad Town Center up to the Llama Construction Building along Mariano Cuenco Avenue.
It can be recalled that construction was supposed to start November last year, but was postponed until February this year after the initial budget was not enough to cover the expenses especially for the purchase of the road right of way. — Joeberth M. Ocao/NLQ