The DPWH finally replies to our articles

For a special presentation on our talk show “Straight from the Sky,” we bring you a couple that we Cebuanos should emulate and be proud of because their company, Nature’s Legacy, pioneered the “greening” of the furniture industry, whose patented stonecasting technology is recognized here by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and abroad.

Our special guests are Mr. & Mrs. Pete and Cathy Delantar whose efforts have gained for them multi-awards not just in the Philippines, but also abroad. What is remarkable with this couple is that when they built their plant in Compostela, they also constructed the housing facilities for their workers… and only after they have completed that did they build their own home. Now how many entrepreneurs or businessmen have you heard have done this for their workers? This is why we asked Mr. & Mrs. Pete & Cathy Delantar to be on this show because we Cebuanos are proud of their work.

So watch this very interesting show on the creativity and the dynamism of Mr. & Mrs. Delantar on SkyCable’s channel 61 at 8:00PM with replays on Wednesday and Saturday same time and channel. We also have replays on MyTV’s channel 30 at 9:00 tonight and at 7:00AM and 9:00PM on Wednesday and Friday.

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For a long time, we have chastised the Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) for the road misery that we taxpayers have to endure because they simultaneously repaired all the major roads in Mandaue City, especially the ones leading to the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and more importantly because DPWH officials have not shown any concern or regard to the motoring public who for more than a year have grudgingly and patiently suffered through the worse traffic nightmares in Metro Cebu.

Well, finally DPWH Region 7 Director Ador Canlas wrote me a letter dated last Sept. 23, 2015 to explain the various reasons that we have enunciated in so many columns in the past month. If you want to know why it took me so long to write this piece, it is because it took the letter too long to reach me. DPWH apparently mailed it to The Freeman and I got it only last week.

Actually Director Canlas answered in one letter the numerous columns including the ones I wrote in the Philippine Star that I wrote about the DPWH. But since it is quite lengthy, I cannot possibly reprint the whole letter in this corner. How I wish DPWH would reply to our columns as they come out… rather than give me one lump sum reply.

However in a nutshell, Director Canlas did not give any explanation as to where the P23 billion infrastructure is that DPWH’s Sec. Rogelio Singson told Pres. PNoy Aquino in a private briefing last Aug.24th, where later during the “Gathering of Friends” of the Liberal Party (LP) at the Cebu Coliseum, the President accused his critics (that included me) for us to wear eyeglasses because under his watch, Cebu got P23 billion in infrastructure development. Well, even with the DPWH reply to our columns, we are still looking for that P23 billion and how that money was spent in Cebu.

The last article we wrote on infrastructure development in Cebu was when we read about the discussion on the EAST 2014 Conference. Here is what Director Canlas said about this, “In view of this particular issue, the undersigned would like to emphasize that the discussion during the EAST 2014 Conference, as well as the Cebu Coastal Road project are Mere Proposals. Thus, nowhere can it be found in the P23-Billion 2014 Infrastructure projects.”

I’m truly glad that Director Canlas have decided to reply to our tirades, where we point out the weaknesses of the DPWH in doing their work here in Region 7. Our point is for DPWH to be transparent to us taxpayers who pay for those infrastructures implemented by DPWH, not to mention the salaries of DPWH officials and staff. What we need to know are the plans of DPWH in order to help ease traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.

You should remember that one of the “E’s” in traffic management is “engineering” and no matter how efficient the Traffic management of the Metro Cities in Cebu is, one major solution is through engineering. So let’s start with this question… how will DPWH solve the monstrous traffic conditions in and around the City of Mandaue? This is something that Councilor Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano-Dizon asked me during the 90th birthday celebration of former Cebu Governor Pablo Garcia.

But how can we help this potential mayoralty candidate for Mandaue if the DPWH doesn’t tell us its plans? In my book, the DPWH should prioritize the construction of at least two flyovers next year. The first one along Quezon Ave. corner Plaridel Street and on the Mandaue Highway as we turn towards the Fernan Bridge. Now the big question is, will the DPWH fund these two projects aimed to ease the mad traffic on Mandaue City? Abangan?

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For email responses to this article, write to [email protected] or [email protected]. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.*