Valenzuela dad scores Maynilad contractors for 'sloppy' road repair

MANILA, Philippines - A Valenzuela City councilor said over the weekend that contractors hired by Maynilad Water and Services, Inc. have allegedly been cutting corners and making a “sloppy” job of putting back the roads they dug up for pipe repair projects.

In a privilege speech before the members of the city council, Councilor Alvin Feliciano, president of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay, demanded that these contractors be blacklisted for using materials that are “not up to standard specifications” to return the roads to their original condition.

He cited the “poor quality” of road repair jobs along M.H. del Pilar street in Barangay Arkong Bato. “For one they are not putting in the right amounts of cement mixture,” Feliciano said.

He said that instead of the required 10 to 12 inches of cement, a contractor allegedly only laid around six inches of concrete and failed to use steel bars to make the pavement stronger.

“Because they cut corners after digging up the road, the road deteriorates easily. (Maynilad) should check the quality of the roads being constructed by its contractors,” Feliciano said.

Feliciano said heavy trucks pass through M.H. del Pilar Avenue, which is disintegrating only months after the water pipes were repaired.

Feliciano urged Maynilad officials to check on reports of corruption involved in these road repair operations.

Feliciano also directed all barangay officials of the city to immediately inform the Liga ng mga Barangay of any such irregularities. The STAR tried but failed to reach Maynilad officials and its contractors for comment.