City Council scrutinizes unfinished P150 million Toong-Pardo road project

MANILA, Philippines —  What exactly happened to the P150 million worth Toong-Pardo Road Opening project in Cebu City that was left unfinished and now has a “critical slope” due to soil movement?

This was the primary discussion of the Cebu City Council during an executive session last Wednesday following a resolution on the matter sponsored by Councilor James Anothony Cuenco.

It was then found out that the project with JJ and J Construction in the year 2021 was suspended after it was found and believed to be a protected area by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Benjamin Carpentero, project-in-charge of JJ and J Construction for the Pardo-Toong Road Opening was the first one to speak during the executive session last Wednesday.

According to Carpentero, they received the notice of award last February 3, 2021, while the contract was awarded to them last March 22, 2021. A day after, the notice to proceed was received. The project was set to open the roads of Pardo-Toong Road Phase 1 to Station 1.

Carpentero shared that as stipulated in the contract, they were given 480 working days to complete the scope of work which covered 1.8 kilometers.

He said that although they began excavating from point zero, it only reached 1.6 kilometers, which means it was 600 meters short from their required scope of work. He disclosed that they could not proceed because the succeeding location was a residential area.

In a video presented to the council, a comparison of the “before and after” of Phase 1 was shown, which indicated that it is actually currently accessible and has an ongoing alteration of road in the upper portion.

However, Carpentero disclosed that the project was suspended on September 21, 2021.

Lawyer Santiago Ortiz the Cebu City Legal Officer further disclosed that there was a document from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-7 that stated that there was a notice of violation with Cease and Desist Order dated September 22, 2021.

On September 27, 2021, a suspension order was also issued by Cebu City Engineer Lowell Corminal as recommended by the EMB-7.

Councilor Nestor Archival Sr., minority floor leader, said that it was suspended since it is a “protected area”. He added that the Pardo to Toong Road is not exactly 1.8 kilometers but rather 5 to 6 kilometers.

“Aron lang jud makahimo silag project, ilang gihimo og 1.8 (KM). Kay kana man gung 1.8 naa sa rules sa DENR di na kinahanglan og ECC,” said Archival.

Environmental Compliance Certificate or ECC is a document issued by the DENR that certifies that a proposed project has been “reviewed and found to comply with the country's environmental laws and regulations”.

Archival said that the project was compressed to be 1.8 kilometers to also align with the budget of at least P150 million.

Further, Carpentero explained that a “critical situation” emerged from Station 206 of the overall project onwards, due to the critical slope that was left behind for more than two years.

“Tungod kay sig’ uwan so ni dahilis ang mga yuta diri sa kilid. So ang mga dalan nga among gi construct, di na siya magamit. Pero magamit siya for benching nalang, for slope protection,” he said.

In 2021, when the project was suspended, Carpentero said that it was the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who had taken over. He explained that it was suspended since they do not have a hauling permit for the stockpile they gathered during the excavations.

“Gi correct ni nila (DPWH)…In fact if muadto ka sa unahan, you have the view of the city nga hawan na kaayo,” said council presiding officer, Acting Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros.

On the other hand, despite having been awarded the project already, Carpentero said they weren’t paid yet by the city government.

He added that the JJ and J construction even wrote a letter to the city council asking for the payment, but to no avail.

But Vice Mayor Hontiveros pointed out that even before, the concern was already brought up as to why JJ and J construction was immediately awarded with a notice to proceed.

Councilor Cuenco further said that Phase 2 should have been the completion of the project going to Pamotan.

Councilor Archival also pointed out that with Carpentero’s statement that they could not proceed since the remaining two kilometers would affect a residential area, just shows an unclear vision in the project planning.

“Wa gyud na ninyo tarongag trabaho,” said Archival addressing the contractor.

According to Archival, in a previous executive session, City Engineers reportedly said they do not have expertise on design and construction which they have passed on to the contractor.

He also said that the area was a protected area which was found out later on. It was also found that there has been soil movement.

“Kanang area-ha di gyud na pwede himoan og dalan,” Archival said.

He also disclosed that the project was commenced without a Barangay Permit and a nod from the EMB.

As the discussion progressed, it was revealed that the contractor was able to receive 15 percent for the mobilization payment, which is more than P22 million out of the P150 million, last July 21, 2021

The suspension for JJ and J Construction was lifted September this year.

Atty. Ortiz, a member of the Bids and Awards (BAC) before, said there is supposed to be scrutiny of project bidders to determine if they pass the requirements namely - financial, legal, and technical.

With this project, Ortiz said that all three categories were approved thus a resolution was passed to award the project.

“In other words, there are nine problems we encountered during the bidding,” said Ortiz.

He, however, assessed that the problem could have surfaced during the implementation stage.

Last August 19, 2024 the Cebu City Council agreed to probe into the alleged “irregularities” of Phase 2 in the Road Opening Project from Barangay Poblacion, Pardo where the contractor has already been awarded despite having no approval of its plan from the legislation.

This came after the approval of the resolution filed by Councilor Pesquera last August 14, 2024.

Currently, the road leading to Barangay Toong “is very narrow and there were occasions that it is inaccessible during rainy seasons due to landslide”

It was in 2004 that the Cebu City Government found it imperative to open a road from Poblacion Pardo to Toong to provide the people of Toong and Pamutan better access roads and to spur economic development in those barangays.

The city council emphasized the need to finish Phase 1 so that it could connect to Phase 2.

At the end of the discussion, Pesquera raised a resolution to reset the discussion with a request to invite the Department of Engineering and Public Works, DPWH, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources (CCENRO), among others to apprise the council on the status of the project.

The contractor was also asked to submit a parcellary survey, approved resolution of the Road Plan, list of Parcels of Land affected, deed of donations and Development Permit. (CEBU NEWS)