MMDA to sue DPWH exec for illegal C5 reblocking

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it will file a complaint for grave discretion against a district director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a contractor for doing an illegal road reblocking on a section of C5 Road in Pasig City.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the reblocking done by the Jagonbuild Construction under the Pasig Boulevard flyover closed one of the two southbound lanes and triggered a massive traffic jam that extended as far as Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

Tolentino said the reblocking was done without a permit and coordination from the MMDA. In addition, Tolentino said the agency only allows reblocking on weekends.

Tolentino said the agency will be lodging the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the project’s contractor and DPWH District Director Roberto Nicolas.

“Pinatigil natin ito dahil una walang permit at pangalawa naka-cause na ng grid-lock sa loob ng Pasig. Confiscated lahat ng materials at bago siguro matapos ang araw na ito ay ako mismo ang mapa-file ng kaso dun sa district engineer ng DPWH dahil mali yung ginawa niya,” said Tolentino.

“Walang nagri-reblock ng weekday, rush hour so lahat ng sisi ngayon ng traffic doon at alam ninyo na kung kanino ibubunton. Isang lane na lang yung nadaanan. So inaaral ngayon ng mga abogado dito sa ahensya kung anong uri yung kasong ipa-file sa Ombudsman. Ako mismo yung magpa-file na nun,” Tolentino added.

Tolentino said the illegal reblocking started early Wednesday before it was stopped by the MMDA after affecting the rush hour morning traffic. Affected by the massive traffic jam were vehicles along the C5 Road at Pineda, Oranbo, Ortigas, Market Market,  Lanuza, and Katipunan.

The MMDA also confiscated all of Jagonbuild’s equipment from the site of the illegal roadblock along C5.

Tolentino said the contractor only presented to the MMDA an expired document asking to be issued a permit for its road reblocking project.

“Ang permit nila ay application for a permit.  Expired na ito noong isang taon pa. At di talaga pwedeng mag reblock ng midweek at rush hour. Gusto kong makaharap ang contractor pero ang pinadal ay yung site engineer. Gagawan na lang natin ng remedyo at kakasuhan ang district engineer,” said Tolentino.