PB to DPWH: Explain delay in widening of north road

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 is asked to explain to the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) the delay in the road widening project at the Cebu North Coastal Road.

The PB is inviting officials of the DWPH 6th District Engineering Office to appear in their session today and update the members on the status of the road widening project of the Tayud-Consolacion-Liloan Road Expansion Project that connects to Cansaga Bridge.

PB Member Thadeo Ouano, who pushed for the invitation, said that they are duty bound to inform the taxpaying Cebuanos on the apparent delay in the completion of this “essential project.”

Ouano said, “That particular public work spells convenience to our fellow Cebuanos in the North of Cebu.”

The Regional Development Council in Central Visayas has already recommended the release of P50 million from the National Government for the construction and upgrading of the project that connects to the P2.2 billion-Cansaga Bridge.

The funds must be released to the Cebu Provincial Government based on the Memorandum of Agreement between the Province and the DPWH before the end of 2010 to prevent its reversion to the National Treasury.

The MOA was signed after then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the request of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for the Province to implement the road widening, because it is a provincial road and Capitol has the capability to implement it.

The Cansaga bridge, which connects Paknaan, Mandaue City and Cansaga, Consolacion was inaugurated by Arroyo on January 24, 2010.

It becomes the major alternate road for travelers from the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue who are bound for northern Cebu.

However, the roads passing Consolacion and Liloan are narrow and need widening.

During the meeting of Infrastructure Development Committee of RDC 7 on November last year, DPWH 7 legal officer Agustino Hermoso told the committee that the P50 million will be for the acquisition of road-right-of-way and civil works. —(FREEMAN)