Cebu solons request change of names of DPWH offices

CEBU, Philippines - Four lawmakers in Cebu want the numerical names of the District Engineering Offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways to conform to the numerical names of their respective congressional districts to prevent confusion in the minds of the transacting public.

Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon filed House Bill 5135 changing the numerical names of the Cebu First, Second and Fourth DEOs to conform to the numerical names of the congressional districts they serve.

 First District Representative Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. and Second District Representative Wilfredo Caminero co-authored Salimbangon’s bill which is pending before the House Committee on Public Works and Highways.

 Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Aileen Radaza also filed House Bill 2782 establishing a lone DEO separate from the existing 6th DEO which was already approved by the said House committee.

 The Province of Cebu is composed of six congressional districts and each has a DEO implementing infrastructure developments.

Three of these DEOs however do not correspond to the numerical name of the congressional district they are serving.

 Cebu 1st DEO serves the 4th congressional district, the 2nd DEO serves the 1st congressional district, and the 4th DEO serves the 2nd congressional district.

 “This disparity between the numerical denomination of the district engineering offices and the congressional district has created confusion in the minds of the transacting public. It has also caused some documents to be rerouted to the different engineering office of even lost,” Salimbangon said.

 Radaza on the other hand said that being a highly-urbanized city, Lapu-Lapu City needs to have a lone DEO not only to ensure swift implementation of public works projects but also to secure the city and the country’s topnotch status as a world-class tourism and business destination. (FREEMAN)