City dads question DPWH asphalting

CEBU, Philippines - Some members of Cebu City Council complained about the simultaneous asphalt-paving of the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 because it is causing traffic congestions in some major thoroughfares in the city.

“We don’t need asphalt-paving, what we need is road widening to ease traffic within the metropolis,” said Councilor Gerardo Carillo.

Carillo said DPWH failed to implement the projects endorsed by the city government through the Cebu City Development Council amounting to more than P1 billion and has only implemented the asphalt overlay and road rehabilitation projects in Cebu-Balamban-Transcentral Highway, J. Luna Ave., M.J. Cuenco Ave., Guadalupe road, Archbishop Reyes Ave., Colon St., Gov. Cuenco Ave., Lapu-Lapu St., General Maxilom Extension, Salvador St., F. Llamas St., Borromeo St., and M.C. Briones St.

“We appreciate the implementation of these projects, however, with due respect these roads are still in good condition. CDC have applied and asked DPWH to instead widen these roads,” Carillo said.

Councilor James Cuenco said “stripping of roads are really tremendous and traffic even worst.”

CDC, Carillo said, endorsed projects to DPWH for implementation amounting to P365 million, including the widening and concreting of the Bacayan-Pit-os road (P225 million), Talamban-Bacayan road (P80 million), and the Banilad-Talamban road (P20 million). It also covers the concreting of V. Sotto St. (P25 million), concreting of the Arellano Blvd. (P10 million) and dredging of the Subangdaku River (P20 million), among others for the north district.

For the south district, the projects included the road opening and widening of  V. Rama Avenue to Lahug (P150 million), widening of Natalio Bacalso Avenue from Kinasang-an to Bulacao (P125 million), widening of C. Padilla St. from T. Abella St. to the South Road Properties (P140 million), and the improvement and widening of Salvador St. (P100 million) totaling to P783 million.

Carillo said any improvement and development programs of the national government must be consulted with the local government units (LGUs) as provided for under section 25 of the Local Government Code.

Carillo also cited section 27 which states that no projects shall be implemented by any government offices without proper consultations and approval of the local government concerned.

The City Council is set to conduct an executive session on April 14 to ask DPWH city district engineer Fernando Cruz and former district engineer Nicomedes Leonor Jr, CDC secretary and chairman Engr. Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez, ABC and barangays affected “what happened on the requested projects of the city and why these were implemented without prior consultation as provided for by law.” — (FREEMAN)