Multi-billion SONA fund for Cordi, Cagayan roads released

By Angel Baybay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The multi-billion funding for the Sazte of the Nation road projecst has been released but the question whether it will be finished by December this year continues to invite doubt from some individuals.

But as far as SONA project manager Alexander Castaneda is concerned, it could be done.
The SONA road project refers to the improvement and concreting of the Mount Data to Banaue section of the Halsema Highway and the Bontoc to Tabuk part of the Bontoc-Tuguegarao road. It has a total length of 203.38 kilometers with a funding of 5,248,043,000 pesos.

The initial release of funds to implement the project started in 2006. Under the multi-year funding scheme, projects amounting to 870,122,000 pesos were contracted out for the years 2006 and 2007 while 942,000,000 pesos was released last year. The biggest chunk of the total funding amounting to 3,435,921,000 pesos was released and to be implemented this year.

As earlier planned, the project should had been finished and inaugurated last year but allegations of substandard implementation rocked the infrastructure venture to the dismay of president Gloria Arroyo. It would be recalled that many finished works were ordered removed and replaced upon the recommendation of an investigating team which probed the allegations.

This resulted to the creation of a project management office which is housed at the DPWH compound here to supervise and fast track the unfinished works. The PMO is manned by 61 employees headed by Engineer Alexander Castaneda. Of the total workforce, 30 were recruited on a job order basis until the project is completed.

Upon assumption to his designation, Castaneda plotted a strategy to ensure the completion of the project within the given timeframe. He regularly conducts coordination meetings with project engineers assigned by both the contractor and his office. During their April 22 meeting, he ordered the project engineers to make their contact numbers available to the public for any possible suggestions.

He also reiterated the message of governor Maximo Dalog through provincial administrator Paulo Pagteilan for them to consider the concerns people affected by the project most especially those relative to road right of way which was earlier identified as the main factor that slowed down the progress of the works.

Castaneda likewise reminded the contractors to finish the project on or before the end of December this year as mandated by a presidential issuance. Should there be a need, they should work on a 24 hour basis to avoid price escalation. The issuance also authorized agencies to enlist the help of the AFP engineering brigade should the contractor misses the cut-off date.

As of April 20, Castaneda reported that based on funding releases, only 28.03% of the project is accomplished. Only 33.11% was completed along the Mount Data to Bontoc section and 31.12% for the Tinglayan to Tabuk portion. Actual accomplishment rates of 29.93% and 12.82% were registered along the Bontoc to Banaue and Bontoc to Tinglayan stretches, respectively.

In a show of concern, Castaneda said he will strictly implement the Department Order 102 to contracts with negative slippages saying that government project engineers are monitoring the progress of the awarded projects.

For a negative slippage of 5%, the contractor is given a warning and required to submit a catch-up plan. A negative slippage of 10% will make the contractor submit a detailed action program on a fortnightly basis which commits him to accomplish definite physical targets on a given time.

Last warning will be given to contractors with a negative slippage of 15% aside from submitting a more detailed program of activities with weekly physical targets. At this stage, the project manager shall prepare contingent plans for the termination of the contract and possible take-over of the work by administration. A negative slippage beyond 15% will cause the termination of the contract.