ILOILO City – The city government is helpless on the perennial problem of flooding and would seek the help of Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
Espinosa blamed the local DPWH’s several unfinished or delayed road and drainage projects for the flooding early this week.
The mayor also complained that the local DPWH seldom coordinates with the city government in implementing infrastructure projects in the city.
“It is high time we bring this matter to the attention of our DPWH Secretary,” said Espinosa.
He would also seek help from the Office of the President through Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, added Espinosa.
The most that the city government could do to ease the problem is de-clog sewers and come up with a traffic plan.
Espinosa said he may issue an executive order that requires contractors of DPWH to first secure permits from the city government before starting projects.
“Ginapatun-an ko na ina sa aton legal office,” said Espinosa.
Another proposed executive order, he said, would require a drainage component to DPWH’s road projects in the city.
The city government must not remain helpless, according to Councilor Ely Estante, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) committee on infrastructure.
“We own this place but we are powerless over projects that bring us inconvenience,” he lamented.
Estante cited as example the drainage project on Jalandoni Street, City Proper. The DPWH contractor failed to complete it within the 256 allotted calendar days.
“Asta lang kita sa basic information about sang project,” observed Estante. “Kon insakto ang monitoring kag husto ang planning and implementation, indi ko magpati nga indi matapos sa husto.”
DPWH contractors may have problems, he added, and rejected the often-invoked reason, force majeure or causes that could not be anticipated and/or are beyond man’s control such as inclement weather.
DPWH Region 6 had issued a Notice of Termination to Sargasso Construction and Development Corp., the contractor of its P100-million drainage project on Jalandoni Street.
Sargasso’s contract actually expired on May 29, 2018 yet but the drainage project is only 70 percent complete, according to Engineer Mavie Gustilo, project engineer of DPWH-6.
“With over 15 percent negative slippage, DPWH-6 decided to issue the contractor with a Notice of Termination. Right now, we are waiting for their reply as part of due process,” said Gustilo.
Sargasso started working on the drainage project in February 2017.
Due to revisions in the program of works, however, Sargasso was given an additional 90 days extension.
In October 2017 Sargasso, citing unfavorable weather conditions and high tide, sought 230 days extension or until May 2018, said Gustilo.
Last month, said Gustilo, Sargasso again asked for an extension of 103 more days or until Sept. 29, 2018.
This latest request for an extension is now being reviewed by the DPWH central office, said Gustilo.
DPWH hopes the Jalandoni drainage project is completed soon so it could start with Phase 2 of
its comprehensive drainage program that aims to end the flooding on the streets of Fuentes, Mabini, Quezon, and Valeria, among other areas in the city.
Phase 2 has a project cost of P190 million. The area covered is from Jalandoni Street, City Proper to Barangay Alalasan in La Paz district./PN
