Belmonte cracks down on illegal street diggings

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ordered yesterday a renewed crackdown against illegal street diggings to prevent unnecessary damage to newly rehabilitated roads in various parts of the city.

In a directive to Chito Cabungcal, officer-in-charge of the city engineering department, the mayor said firms and individuals responsible for the illegal street diggings must be made to answer for the damage on concrete roads.

Belmonte lamented that while the city government continues to implement road-concreting projects, some contractors and individuals dig up cemented roads.

"It’s a waste of public money," he said.

The mayor asked the city engineering office to prepare a list of contractors and individuals that were issued digging permits and to find out whether they complied with all the necessary requirements.

Belmonte cited the case of P. Tuazon street in Cubao, where illegal street diggings have damaged the newly concreted road. The mayor said he wants an investigation to identify those responsible for the illegal act.

Also undertaking massive street diggings are the water concessionaires, which do so as part of their service improvement program in various areas in the city.

However, prior to the diggings, the water firm must secure a permit and work closely with the city government to address the traffic build-up and other hazards their diggings may pose to motorists and pedestrians.

Street diggings have been tagged as the main cause of flash floods during heavy rains.

Apart from the renewed crackdown against illegal street diggings, the mayor also directed the city engineering office to repair damaged manholes.