Fresnedi hits PNCC over Alabang viaduct repair

Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi has expressed concern over the continued failure of the Philippine National Construction Corp. to rehabilitate the Alabang viaduct.

Fresnedi revealed that the PNCC, in a correspondence with the Muntinlupa City government, said "budgetary constraints" as well as "avoidance of expected horrendous traffic snarls during the temporary partial or full closure of the viaduct during the time of rehabilitation works" prevented it in repairing the viaduct.

"The PNCC must make the decision to do the repair work at the soonest possible time. The rehabilitation of the viaduct is a matter of grave importance," Fresnedi said.

Concerns on the structural soundness of the viaduct, the bridge that serves as the gateway of Metro Manila to Southern Luzon, has been raised recently when cracks has been sighted along the length of the viaduct.

In a report, the Department of Public Works and Highways had pointed out that joint inspections of the viaduct with the PNCC showed that the facility was still safe for motorists "provided palliative measures be implemented on the viaduct pending the structure’s complete rehabilitation."

The report had also noted that the structure’s slabs or posts showed signs of weakness and deterioration when extremely heavy trucks passed over it.

It was learned that the PNCC was still waiting for the government’s approval of the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement before proceeding with their rehabilitation of the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Alabang viaduct.

Earlier, Fresnedi assailed the Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. and the PNCC for its plan to raise toll fees saying they have no justification for the increase as they had no visible road development work to show.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay also asked the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to reject the proposed 300-percent toll rate increase at the SLEX, saying the hike is grossly unfair and unjustified.

In a letter to the TRB, Magsaysay said the increase should not be imposed since the promised infrastructure was not completed and congestion in Slex worsened. – Rainier Allan Ronda and Perseus Echeminada