City lawyer to meet DPWH-7, contractor on batching plant

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Legal Office will hold a clarificatory conference next week with the representatives of the committee on infrastructure, Department of Public Works and Highways and its contractor to discuss whether or not to remove the batching plant from the city-owned lot at the North Reclamation Area.

City Attorney Jerone Castillo said he will directly get from them the “real score” on the appeal of the WT Construction to reconsider the notice to vacate issued on February 18 for the removal of the concrete mixing plant.

 Castillo said if DPWH would still recommend for the extension, he may endorse it to the city mayor for the extension of the temporary facility.

 Also, he agreed with WTCI vice president Willy Te’s proposal to undertake a legal agreement for the temporary use of the city-owned property to dismiss any negative interpretation.

 Castillo, however, recalled that there was a prior agreement between the city and the contractor for the latter to develop portions of NRA for the free use of the lot.

Te earlier said they already developed portions of Block 27 and relocated the assorted scrap items and impounded vehicles from the site, among others, which “signifies our desire to compensate the city for our temporary use of the property.” The improvement costs them P1.5 million.

DPWH-7 director Ador Canlas has endorsed the setting of the batching plant to the city government to hasten the completion of the S. Osmeña Boulevard project.

 “The project is considerably huge, it will require the setting up of a concrete batching plant to hasten the project,” he said.

WTCI has been operating the plant at Block 27 in NRA since April last year. The contractor is undertaking the P289-million concreting of the S. Osmeña Boulevard, which is a project of the DPWH-7.

Once the project is completed, it is seen to improve the flow of traffic or ease traffic congestion in the area. The rehabilitated road will be used also in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation this year.  (FREEMAN)