DPWH suspends P500 M Baguio circuit road proj

BAGUIO CITY – Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson withheld the release of P140 million earmarked by the agency to complete the P500 million 21-kilometer Baguio circumferential road project following the failure of the environment department to issue the necessary tree cutting permit for more than 160 trees affected by the project.

Singson ordered the suspension in the release of the remaining funds for the project until the DPWH and Department of Environment and Natural Resources settles the problem on the issuance of the tree cutting permits to allow the contractor to push through with the completion of the road project.

           

In his marginal note to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Singson said “the Baguio circumferential project is a priority of the Aquino administration, thus, the issue on the cutting of the 160 trees must be immediately settled. In the meantime, the release of the P140 million earlier earmarked for the project is suspended.”

            

Engr. Ireneo S. Gallato, district engineer of the DPWH-Baguio City District Engineering Office, admitted because of the impasse between the two agencies, there will be delays in completion of the project.

            

The 21-km circumferential road project linking the city’s eastern link in Happy Hallow and western link in Irisan cutting through portions of Naguilian road, Marcos highway, Kennon road and Loakan road was envisioned to serve as an alternate route for motorists going to and from the said areas in order to evade the monstrous traffic jams at the city’s central business district area.

           

 “We already advised the contractor, Goldrich Construction, to work on areas that are not affected by the trees to be cut so that substantial accomplishments could be realized considering that the project was supposed to have been completed last month,” Gallato said.

           

He added road widening, concreting and slope protection activities have become difficult with daily afternoon rains, thus, the completion of the project could extend up to the end of this year.

           

 The implementation of the project started in 2001 when former President Joseph Estrada released P300 million as payment of the national government to the local government representing part of its obligations for its numerous government reservations in the city but numerous works were also delayed because of problems on road-right-of-way in the areas traversed by the circuit road.

           

Because of delays in project implementation, Gallato admitted the project estimates were affected by the escalation of prices of construction materials over the years, thus, the need for the national government to earmark another P200 million to complete the circuit.

           

In 2010, Gallato revealed P50 million of road widening works and concreting of road pavements were implemented in the Happy Hallow area while the remaining works will be connecting the link at barangays Camp 7 and Bakakeng Norte/Zur where the road also traverses the Cojuangco property.             The Cojuangcos already gave the permission to accommodate part of the road within their property considering that it will benefit the motoring and commuting public.

           

Clarence Baguilat, DENR-CAR regional director, endorsed to Secretary Paje the issuance of the tree cutting permit for the affected trees to help fastrack the issuance of the same so that the contractor could already complete his remaining works.

           

According to him, government infrastructure projects are exempted from the coverage of Executive Order No. 23 or the total logging ban issued by President Aquino but concerned government agencies must go through the process in securing the required tree cutting permits for the affected trees in the implementation of the infrastructure works.

           

For his part, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said Singson’s marginal note should send a message to Secretary Paje that he must fastrack the issuance of the tree cutting permit for the affected trees in order to complete the circuit road for the motoring public to use in evading the traffic jams in the city’s business center. – Dexter A. See