DPWH exec apologizes for inconvenience over P68-M road projects

BAGUIO CITY – The chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office here apologized to local residents and tourists for inconvenience caused by the on-going implementation of over P68 million worth of infrastructure projects under the agency’s regular infrastructure fund which was bided out prior to the enforcement of the election ban on projects.

The simultaneous implementation of road upgrading projects, particularly along Kennon road, Magsaysay Avenue , Marcos highway and Outlook Drive, which resulted in daily monstrous traffic congestions, was the subject of public outrage of local residents and tourists who said the implementation of the projects should have been done earlier.

However, Engr. Ireneo Gallato, DPWH district engineer, said such inconveniences are temporary and that people will start feeling the benefits of better roads once all works are done.

According to him, the target completion of the four projects is supposed to be six months but the project implementors are trying their best to take advantage of the good weather condition to complete the projects in three months or way ahead of schedule.

By the end of June, the 13 million Magsaysay re-blocking project, the P10 million Outlookdrive road repair project and the P10 million Marcos highway road upgrading project will all be completed while the P35 million Kennon road rehabilitation works will be finished by the end of July.

Supposedly, the Magsaysay avenue project will be finished by the opening of classes but the prevalence of intermittent rains daily has delayed the works being done by the contractors, thus, the deadline for completion has been moved to the end of this month.

Gallato pointed out the funding for the projects were only released in the later part of march, thus, the contractors took advantage of the good weather condition in rushing all the necessary works since the summer season is the right time to implement infrastructure projects since they could attain their strength immediately.

Aside from the regular funded projects, he revealed the agency is also supervising the speedy implementation of multi-million calamity projects in the different parts of this mountain resort city so that all works will be done before the rainy season in order to ensure the safety of the people.

Last year, the DPWH district office here was also criticized for simultaneously implementating road rehabilitation works along Kennon and Loakan roads that caused tremendous traffic congestions and affected the productivity of residents in the affected barangays.

Gallato said implementation of projects is dependent on release of funds by the Department of Budget and Management, thus, it is unfair for some sectors to blame them for the inconveniences caused by road repair projects that are being frequently implemented, claiming that improved roads will convenience for the motorists and the people after the completion of all works.