ILOILO City – Classes in public elementary and high schools across the country resume today. In this city, the public is bracing for traffic congestion these first few weeks of school year 2018 – 2019.
The city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) slammed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contractors for failing to complete road and drainage projects before the opening of the new school year.
“I appeal to these contractors to work 24/7. They can certainly finish the job if they want to,” said PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu.
Data from the Department of Education Region 6’s Policy, Planning and Research Division showed 81,956 enrolees in public elementary and high schools in Iloilo City.
Conlu counted around 30 unfinished road and drainage projects.
“I cannot understand why they failed to complete these projects during the summer break,” he said.
The onset of the rainy season could further exacerbate the situation, he warned.
Conlu urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to discipline its contractors.
“The city government has been very cooperative with DPWH. We granted its requests for road closures and traffic rerouting to help hasten the completion of these projects. But we are disappointed. It still failed to meet its deadlines,” said Conlu.
One traffic bottle neck is that portion of Luna Street in La Paz district fronting a mall. It has been under construction for months.
Conlu said the management of Gaisano City mall may be asked to open its basement parking area to serve as temporary bypass road for private cars.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), meanwhile, passed a resolution asking the Iloilo City District Engineering Office of DPWH for status reports on its road and drainage projects.
“With the resumption of classes and the prospect of rains, there is a growing concern from the public as well as the business sector that the continued delays in these projects will result to traffic nightmare and gross inconvenience for all,” read part of the resolution.
Councilor Ely Estante, chairperson of the SP committee on engineering, construction and public works, said DPWH should take to task contractors for the delays.
“Department Order 37 issued in 2015 allows DPWH to penalize erring contractors for undue delays with penalties ranging from liquidated damages to cancellation of contract,” said Estante.
While some reasons for the delay may be understandable such as inclement weather, right-of-way problems and even changes in project plans, Estante said some are inexcusable such as the contractors’ lack of equipment or manpower.
“Some road projects take many unreasonable months to complete. In this day of rising fuel prices, this is unacceptable,” said Estante.
While DPWH regularly submits project status reports, the councilor said these were “very technical”, did not explain the delays and offered no solutions./PN
These Contractor must be penalize and ban from taking contract to the government aside from that the liquidated damages must be implemented. File a case to these erring Contractor and cancel their PCAB license.