Rama wants road projects suspended

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to stop the implementation of six concreting projects in the south district as the roads covered by the projects are still in good condition.

Rama wants the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to justify first the implementation of  the projects before they can proceed.

These projects will be implemented in Guadalupe road, Tupas St. in barangay San Nicolas, Tres de Abril St., V. Rama St., Katipunan St. and M. Velez St.

These are all requested and lobbied by Rep. Tomas Osmeña, Rama’s critic and expected political rival in the 2013 elections.

All projects combined will cost over P140 million funded by the realignment of budget for the supposed P150-million Salinas-Gorordo Avenue junctions flyover.

The said proposed flyover in the north district was also the proposal of Osmeña, but it is among those opposed by the anti-flyover groups.

 Instead of reverting the budget back to the national treasury, DPWH realigned the funds to road concreting projects in areas identified by the congressman.

The projects have been bid out and awarded to contractors.

But Rama warned the agency in proceeding with the implementation until the creation of a traffic scheme that will address the congestion that is expected to worsen once the projects proceed simultaneously.

“Imagine what will happen kung magdungan ni tanan. Kung magkagubot, kinsa ma’y pasanginlan? Sila ba or ang Mayor? The job of the mayor is to bring order to the city,” Rama said explaining why the city must have a say on the implemention of projects.

One of the major concerns that Rama raised is the inconvenience it would cause the public, especially to the residents of Guadalupe, during the fiesta celebration of the Our Lady of Guadalupe in December.

He said that the traffic will also cause problem to motorists during the Sinulog celebration in January.

“I express disgust against the contractors having their containers and heavy equipment put in place in some of the roads when we have not given them clearance to commence,” Rama said.

Rama said that the projects may not even be necessary because they found out during an inspection last Wednesday that the roads are still in good conditions.

“Nganong gub-on man ang dalan na maayo pa?” he said.

He said there are more roads in the north district that need concreting, like the Kaohsiung Street along Mahiga River.

He said the funds could also be used in the widening of the Pit-os and N. Bacalso roads or better yet, in the construction of a comprehensive drainage system in Cebu City.

City Traffic Operations Management Executive Director and lawyer Rafael Christopher Yap said that the simultaneous implementation of the projects spells grave public inconvenience.

“They have to present us first a traffic plan,” Yap said.

Yap said that the city needs widening and not concreting.

DPWH-7 Information Officer Marie Nillama said that DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson approved the realignment of budget last month.

Immediately after they got the approval and since all the documents like the program of works have been prepared, the projects were bid out and awarded this month.

The rehabilitation of the Guadalupe road will cost more than P32 million and was awarded to the SOCOR Construction Corp. It will cover more than two kilometers of road including drainage system.

In Tupas St., the project covers more than half a kilometer and will cost more than P11 million. This project was awarded to AST Builders.

The project for Tres de Abril will cost more than P7.4 million covering 0.27 kilometer. It will be undertaken by Gowil Construction.

The concreting of almost a kilometer portion of V. Rama will cost more than P38.4 million and was awarded to MBD General Construction.

The Katipunan St. project covering 1.475 kilometers will cost P44.1 million and will be undertaken byBNR Construction.

The M. Velez St. road concreting project will cost more than P6.1 million and covers 0.170 kilometer. The winning contractor for this project is the AST Builders.

Nillama said that when they asked for realignment, these proposed projects supported by plans and photos were submitted to the secretary.

It was approved with a written note from Singson that the road projects must include drainage system since the city has raised concerns about flooding. — /MBG (FREEMAN)