Contractor rushes Cebu road for GMA inspection

CEBU — The contractor of the Cebu South Road is rushing the project in time for the inspection of President Arroyo on Thursday morning.

"They better pray for less rain since it really hampers their work and they might not be able to deliver what they promised," first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas said.

During her July visit to Cebu, Mrs. Arroyo said the contractor, Aboitiz Construction Group Inc. (ACGI), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have until the end of August to make the four lanes under Contract Package I (CP I) — from Mananga Bridge in Talisay City to the Naga-Uling Toledo intersection — and the two lanes under Contract Package II (CP II)— from the Naga intersection to Carcar Rotunda — totally passable.

But in a meeting with the project’s stakeholders two weeks ago, Gullas set an earlier deadline on Aug. 18, which the ACGI officially accepted.

Under the original contract, CP I would be completed in February next year, and CP II in October this year.

Mrs. Arroyo, however, is expected to inspect just the completion of the carriageway or the passageway, excluding the curb and gutter and the sidewalks.

During the meeting two weeks ago, problems on road right-of-way acquisition and payments, including delayed payments to the contractor, were ironed out.

The Cebu South Road is the main arterial highway used by commuters from southwestern municipalities as well as Boholanos and Negrenses.

Mrs. Arroyo’s grandfather built the first-ever south road in Cebu during the American occupation. — Freeman News Service