Gwen notes DPWH violation in Alcoy-Oslob road project

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is demanding a “satisfactory presentation” from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7), particularly the 4th District Engineering, on how they would continue the delayed implementation of a 3.3-kilometer road rehabilitation project covering the municipalities of Alcoy and Oslob.

The road recently went viral on social media after a photo of two men growing plants in one of its potholes was posted that drew mixed reactions from netizens.

"I had already put more or less 20 signages there. And I plan to add more. It says this is a national road. This is not a provincial road. Kindly direct your complaints to the DPWH, showing the number to its district and regional offices. Then, my name indicated Governor Gwen Garcia," said Garcia.

Garcia said that in a meeting with DPWH, she found out that the agency could have committed several violations in implementing the project, which could have contributed to its ongoing delay.

She said the project was allocated P147 million budget in 2022. A notice to proceed was issued on May 30, 2022, stating that it should be completed within 280 calendar days.

The scope comprised mainly asphalt overlay, particularly in some road portions in Alcoy, and some new concrete construction. Garcia said DPWH-7 granted the contractor at least three extensions, where the last one was for 45 days, despite a negative slippage of 20 percent. A slippage pertains to a project contractor's failure to meet its schedule commitments.

As stated under the DPWH's department order (DO) 20, a project is only allowed to have at least 15 percent negative slippage. Exceeding that figure, the agency should terminate its contract with the contractor.

"Duna man gud nay mga standards ba nga ug muabot nakag negative 12 e show cause (show cause order) naka. Pagka negative 15 ug wa gihapun kay improvement, e-terminate naka. Kini wa pa gihapuy show cause nga gi issue negative 20 na," said Garcia.

"So nangutana ko nganong wa naman lang ni ninyo gi-terminate? Unya nangutana sad ko at the time nga mi grant mo sa extension naa raba say rule nga you cannot grant an extension kung negative na sya daan kay kung mao na magsige nalang ka’g extend to justify the negative ug mosaka napud sya," she added suspecting that DPWH could have granted an extension even the project showing high figures of negative slippage.

According to the governor, District Engineer Ma. Chymbelin Ibal blamed the delay on the lack of maintenance fund of the agency. However, Garcia said this could not have been the reason behind because the project already had a contract that was awarded last year.

"Mahitabo ana variation order (a written agreement to change the work from that agreed in a contract) napud. Mosaka napud ang kantidad sa contrata unya mangita nasad mo'g budget? Samtang nag-huwat mo sa ipuno e-suspend usa ninyong trabaho. I know where this is going," said Garcia.

Garcia also questioned the agency for excluding the Provincial government in the project's planning and implementation which should have not been the case as provided under the Local Government Code.

The governor threatened to pursue filing charges against the DPWH should the matter would not get a proper solution, stressing that the Provincial Board had already authorized her to do so.

To recall, the Provincial Board had also authorized Garcia to file charges against DPWH-7 for its failure to address another unfinished road project on UN Avenue in Mandaue City last December.

Recently, another resolution from the Provincial Board was approved, asking Garcia to intervene in the ongoing construction of the Consolacion-Liloan road widening project due to its slow progress as well. — FPL (FREEMAN)