Council questions road contractor's accountability

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council is demanding accountability from the contractor of the P150 million project of the Pardo-Toong Road Opening after its civil works had to be corrected by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which corresponded to more expenses.

Last Thursday, the Cebu City Council members continued their discussion of the Pardo-Toong road project in an executive session to pick up where they left off during the first session wherein the delays of the project and its environmental compliance were tackled.

During the session, Julius Cesar Deloria from DPWH-Cebu City District Engineering Office disclosed that on top of the P150 million budget appropriation, they also allocated another P75 million to correct the works of the contractor– JJ and J Construction, to remedy the disaster threat it may cause to the public.

Deloria explained that their office is currently doing a realignment parallel to Phase 1 of the project when they found out that a portion has already been “scoured” due to the rainy season and the lack of drainage.

Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, the council's presiding officer, then pointed out that this means that the area was dangerous hence the need to realign.

For his part, Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., minority floor leader, said it shows the project was not “well-planned.” He added that the scope of work of JJ and J Construction is to “design and construct.” This means, he added, that whatever has been designed must be also enacted.

Majority floor leader, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera also said that correction should have been done by the contractor.

She added that DPWH intended to remedy a possible disaster threat, such as flash floods, that may affect the people of the Poblacion and Quiot Pardo, an area near where the project sits.

Pesquera also said that the P75 million budget for the correction works must be deducted from the entitled payment for JJ and J construction.

“It started wrongly and any corrective measures, it still wrong,” said Pesquera.

Archival, on the other hand, said that there was no information that there should be a correction on the project but agreed that it should be done by the contractor.

“The correction must be done by the contractor and not by anybody else, karon this is already P75 million, unsaon nato pag deduct ana? It’s there already,” he said.

Environmental Compliance Certificate

During the previous session, it was found out that the project with JJ and J Construction last 2021 was suspended after it was believed to be a protected area by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7.

Lawyer Romeo Bulotano, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officer for CCENRO, said the 1.8 kilometers stretch for Phase 1 of the road opening is already considered alienable or disposable.

Bulotano added that Phase 2, which is about 2.2 kilometers according to their latest survey, touches a portion of a protected landscape that requires an environmental certificate to proceed. He, however, said that this matter is out of their jurisdiction and must be handled by the EMB, the office authorized to issue a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC).

Further, Archival highlighted that the city council has not even seen a concrete plan if indeed Phase 1 connects to Phase 2 of the project.

He added that there was more confusion over the project when they have not seen the end of Phase 1, which was supposed to clarify that it connects to Phase 2.

“Because according to the contractor, dili ni kaabot didto (Phase 2) kay naay mga balay,” said Archival.

Councilor Joel Garganera then suggested that EMB, Central Cebu Protected Landscape, CCENRO, and PAMB first agree on the environmental impact and assessment of the project before they issue one resolution to avoid conflicting opinions.

Archival also said that the reason for the suspension of the project must be ironed out considering that there have been “documents” that were issued to back the suspension that caused the delay or completion.

Arnold Omandam, assistant CCPL Superintendent told the council upon seeing the project on the map there were at least 6,600 square meters that was within the CCPL. He, however, said that this is according to their initial findings.

But Omandam said that when the plan was made, no consultation was done before their office.

CPDO Architect Anna Ruby King, Land Use and Zoning Division, showed a drone shot of Phase 1 and said that they approved the land development clearance last September 30, 2022. It was applied by JJ, and J Construction, which she said, during that time, the overall plan was already approved by the DEPW.

This drew more confusion among the council on why the road plan was approved first despite having no approval yet from the CPDO or clearance that the area is cleared for any development.

It was in 2004 that the Cebu City government found it imperative to open a road from Poblacion Pardo to Toong to provide the people of Toong and Pamutan better access road and to spur economic development in those barangays. (CEBU NEWS)