DPWH regional head stakes his job over Davao bridge

DAVAO CITY – The Southern Mindanao director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) offered to step down from office should there be no new bridge here by April 2008 to replace an old one that collapsed early this year.

The foundation of the Gov. Generoso Bridge I collapsed after more than 50 years of use. The bridge was said to be the oldest in the city.

During the regular session of the city council last Tuesday, DPWH Region XI director Hadji Pundiato Mitnug offered to give up his post should the much-anticipated reconstruction of the bridge be not completed by April next year.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte led local officials in prodding the DPWH to immediately reconstruct the bridge possibly before Christmas.

Mitnug admitted though to the city councilors that it remains uncertain whether the P100 million earlier allotted from the department’s lump sum for 2007 for the reconstruction of the bridge was indeed allocated.

Mitnug said the same was true for the required additional P50 million that was supposed to be taken from the DPWH’s lump sum for 2008.

Mitnug said only the DPWH central office knows for certain if indeed the amount needed for the bridge’s reconstruction was included in the 2007 and 2008 lump sums.

Lump sums are used for projects not included in specific budget allocations such as in the case of the Gov. Generoso Bridge I.