Medellin seeks permanent solution to damaged road

CEBU, Philippines - The Municipality of Medellin wants the provincial government to consider a permanent solution in undertaking measures to rehabilitate al road in the town that has been damaged.

In a resolution, the town council asked the province to allocate funds for an asphalt overlay project for the province-owned road traversing Barangays Dayhagon, Lamintak Sur and Norte, Luy-a, Caputatan Sur, and Poblacion.

Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez pointed out that concreting provincial roads would be better than merely paving of another layer, which can only last for five or six years.

“Asphalt overlay is more of a bondage solution pero okey ra sab. It will be his (Governor Hilario Davide) discretion. He asked me ‘what is better, to have it concreted again?’ I told him nga naa ra na nimo, Gov, kay it’s not a joke sab kay dako-dako man gyud nang kantidara,” Ramirez said.

He added that a drainage system should also complement the provincial road.

The provincial road in the town was concreted during the time of then governor Lito Osmeña but is already dilapidated due to floodwaters.

Ramirez explained that a ‘permanent solution’ would prevent the problem from recurring and that immediate repair is needed considering that the town has a sugar milling center with volume of trucks and heavy equipment passing through the area.

The mayor said they have been assured that Capitol will look into the matter.

“Receptive man kaayo ang governor, I think he has visualized why are we so concerned sa provincial road,” Ramirez told reporters.

In a separate interview, Davide said Capitol will send team to inspect the area. No timeframe has been set for the project.

Ramirez and members of the town Council channeled the concern to Davide during a meeting at the Capitol yesterday, the first for the town officials since Davide assumed office in 2013.

“Gawas atong courtesy call in 2013, karon pa mi nagka-meeting. It’s a sense of déjà vu nga nakabalik mi aning opisinaha,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez, a critic of the Davide administration, earlier wrote a letter to Capitol demanding that the provincial government rehabilitate provincial roads that already pose a danger to motorists.

He even ordered the municipal treasurer to “hold in abeyance” all remittances intended for the provincial government pending the repair of the damaged infrastructure.

“(But) There have already been steps undertaken,” he said. — (FREEMAN)