DPWH director to iron out coordination problem with Mandaue City

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Apor Canlas is willing to sit down with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to align all its nationally-funded drainage and infra projects to the needs of the city.

This developed after Cortes complained during the Regional Development Council meeting the other day the failure of DPWH in coordinating with the city in the implementation of drainage projects.

Using an audio-visual presentation, Cortes cited the implementation of the P30M drainage and road project along M.C. Briones St. wherein DPWH replaces the culverts with the same size, the drainage project in A.S. Fortuna –Rolling Hills area and road/drainage project in M. Logarta St., among others.

Cortes pointed out the classic example of a lack of coordination is the concreting project in Tingub which afftected a private lot, among others.

“If it is not corrected it will be a waste of people’s money,” said Cortes.

Canlas who just assumed office last month sat beside Mayor Cortes during the meeting and opted to be silent during the latter’s presentation.

In view of this, the RDC Executive Council chaired by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama passed in mass motion a resolution asking DPWH to coordinate first with the various local government units before implementing a project.

Architect Florentino Nimor, Jr., Mandaue City Planning Officer during the regular press conference at Mandaue session hall said that right after the RDC meeting Canlas made an ocular inspection of the M.C.Briones project.

Besides, Nimor added, Cortes and Canlas are scheduled to meet next week in the city hall for Canlas to know the development plant of the city particularly the drainage master plan so the DPWH can align all its related projects.

Mayor Cortes is bent in implementing all identified infra projects before the election ban and has instructed all concerned city officials to fastrack the process.  – THE FREEMAN