Baguio mayor reacts to P-Noy’s criticisms

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The city’s top executive took exception to statements of President Aquino last week that officials here rejected projects which could have boosted the economy of this tourism resort.  

           

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the city government did not reject the simultaneous implementation of over P211 million worth of infrastructure projects here targeted for implementation  early part of this year to improve national roads.

           

What was simply requested the Department of Public works and Highways, he said, was to do the works on a staggered basis to reduce inconvenience of motoring public.

            

Domogan issued the statement after President Aquino criticized Baguio officials for “rejecting” the simultaneous implementation of nationally funded infrastructure projects during his recent visit at the Benguet State University in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet to witness the mass oathtaking of around 300 new members of the Liberal Party who came from the different parts of the Cordillera.

           

He said when the projects were supposed to be implemented, it coincided with the conduct of the 17^th edition of the Baguio Flower Festival last February and the graduation of the Philippine Military Academy  where there was huge influx of foreign and domestic visitors, thus, reducing inconvenience to motorists and the commuting public.

            

Despite the re-scheduling of the implementation of the 18 projects aimed at improving the condition of national roads in the city, Domogan said the Baguio City District Engineering Office and its project implementors were able to complete most of the projects before the onset of the rainy season and before the opening of classes thereby resulting to the convenience of the public.

            

Ireneo S. Gallato, DPWH-BCDEO district engineer, said all 18 major infrastructure projects given to the city will be completed by the middle of July which is way ahead of the prescribed schedule of the completion of the projects that was projected to be by September this year.

           

 “If not for man-made delays in the implementation of the different infrastructure projects given to the city, we were supposed to have finished our allotted projects by the end of June much earlier than our September deadline,” Gallato said.