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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Wednesday, March 29, 2017
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ILOILO City – Proper coordination was made before any activity related to the ongoing P100-million new drainage system project in this city was undertaken, insisted Engr. Rodney Gustilo, chief of Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) City Engineering Office.
“We do not do any project without asking permission from the city government. We are sending letters to the city mayor and to the vice mayor being the presiding officer of the city council,” said Gustilo in a press conference yesterday.
The contractor of the new drainage system project is under fire for closing a portion of Jalndoni Street, City Proper for its pre-casting of concrete box culverts. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) appeared clueless about this.
The city council has the sole authority to order the closure of streets.
According to Gustilo, a letter was sent to Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, presiding officer of the city council, about the project on Oct. 27, 2016 yet. He showed a copy of the letter to the press.
“So we presumed, we believed in good faith, that it is the responsibility of the secretariat of the SP to furnish with copies all city councilors. I think DPWH could not be blamed for (whatever miscommunication),” said Gustilo.
He also said the contractor – Sargaso Construction and Development Corp. – and DPWH did a project presentation at the Office of the City Mayor explaining the scope of work and the method of construction.
The presentation was attended by no less than Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office (TMTRO) chief Bobby Foerster and City Engineer Roberto Divinagracia, Gustilo added.
“It is not true that he was not aware of (the project and road closure). We would not have (proceeded with it), particularly (on) Jalandoni Street, without approval of the local government,” said Gustilo.
Councilor Joshua Alim recently wrote Divinagracia requesting an investigation on the ongoing fabrication of concrete box culverts on Jalandoni Street adjacent to the University of San Agustin.
Alim said the fabrication was obstructing the flow of vehicles and could even result to road accidents.
Divinagracia referred Alim’s letter to Engr. Wenceslao Leano Jr., regional director of DPWH.
Ormel Santos, assistant chief of DPWH Region 6’s construction division, said a barricade or barrier was set up in the area while pre-cast activities were being carried out to secure the area and prevent accidents.
“Tam-an kahipid sang lugar. We observed many times, traffic lang during peak hours. After sina, wala na,” said Santos.
According to DPWH OIC assistant regional director Al Fruto, pre-cast the concrete box culverts on site would hasten the drainage system project because all the contractor has to do is drop the boxes in the excavated areas.
The DPWH contractor started working on the project December last year. The new drainage, when completed, is expected to solve the flooding on the streets of Fuentes, Mabini, Quezon and Valeria, among other areas in the city.
Work on the drainage project covers four major streets – General Luna, Jalandoni, Rizal, and JM Basa./PNILOILO City – Proper coordination was made before any activity related to the ongoing P100-million new drainage system project in this city was undertaken, insisted Engr. Rodney Gustilo, chief of Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) City Engineering Office.
“We do not do any project without asking permission from the city government. We are sending letters to the city mayor and to the vice mayor being the presiding officer of the city council,” said Gustilo in a press conference yesterday.
The contractor of the new drainage system project is under fire for closing a portion of Jalndoni Street, City Proper for its pre-casting of concrete box culverts. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) appeared clueless about this.
The city council has the sole authority to order the closure of streets.
According to Gustilo, a letter was sent to Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, presiding officer of the city council, about the project on Oct. 27, 2016 yet. He showed a copy of the letter to the press.
“So we presumed, we believed in good faith, that it is the responsibility of the secretariat of the SP to furnish with copies all city councilors. I think DPWH could not be blamed for (whatever miscommunication),” said Gustilo.
He also said the contractor – Sargaso Construction and Development Corp. – and DPWH did a project presentation at the Office of the City Mayor explaining the scope of work and the method of construction.
The presentation was attended by no less than Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office (TMTRO) chief Bobby Foerster and City Engineer Roberto Divinagracia, Gustilo added.
“It is not true that he was not aware of (the project and road closure). We would not have (proceeded with it), particularly (on) Jalandoni Street, without approval of the local government,” said Gustilo.
Councilor Joshua Alim recently wrote Divinagracia requesting an investigation on the ongoing fabrication of concrete box culverts on Jalandoni Street adjacent to the University of San Agustin.
Alim said the fabrication was obstructing the flow of vehicles and could even result to road accidents.
Divinagracia referred Alim’s letter to Engr. Wenceslao Leano Jr., regional director of DPWH.
Ormel Santos, assistant chief of DPWH Region 6’s construction division, said a barricade or barrier was set up in the area while pre-cast activities were being carried out to secure the area and prevent accidents.
“Tam-an kahipid sang lugar. We observed many times, traffic lang during peak hours. After sina, wala na,” said Santos.
According to DPWH OIC assistant regional director Al Fruto, pre-cast the concrete box culverts on site would hasten the drainage system project because all the contractor has to do is drop the boxes in the excavated areas.
The DPWH contractor started working on the project December last year. The new drainage, when completed, is expected to solve the flooding on the streets of Fuentes, Mabini, Quezon and Valeria, among other areas in the city.
Work on the drainage project covers four major streets – General Luna, Jalandoni, Rizal, and JM Basa./PN
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