Davide orders inventory of damaged roads

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III ordered an inventory of provincial roads prone to landslides and those that are already badly damaged by heavy downpour.

Davide yesterday said that he asked Acting Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Neil Angelo Sanchez to check the conditions of the provincial roads after landslides occurred in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

Davide also asked the Provincial Engineering Office to conduct an inspection.

He said he has been receiving reports about damaged provincial roads from the mayors and barangays captains who are asking for assistance for road repair.

Last Friday, Pinagmungajan Mayor Glenn Baricuatro endorsed the inspection report of his municipal engineer on the deteriorated sections of the provincial roads from Barangay Poblacion to Barangay Lamac.

Baricuatro hopes Davide will act on the report.

Davide assured that the Provincial Government will address the problem as long as funds are available.

“Mao na mangayo ko og update sa atong provincial engineer kung unsay mabuhat nato ana,” Davide said.

For this year’s budget, the Province has P30 million appropriations for the roads and bridges maintenance program under the Office of the Provincial Engineer.

Another P60 million was appropriated for development of road, bridge, highway construction and rehabilitation program.

Also yesterday, the Provincial Board passed a resolution sponsored by PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 to check the condition of major roads affected by recent flooding throughout the entire Province of Cebu.

Sitoy said that heavy downpour and flooding has severely contributed to the dilapidation of major roads and highways affecting business and the delivery of services.

“Continuous dilapidation may lead to traffic paralysis and can even cause accidents or untimely damage to vehicles making use of such roads,” Sitoy said. (FREEMAN)