Mayor halts 2 DPWH projects in Cabanatuan

CABANATUAN CITY , Nueva Ecija — Two road projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways in this city have been ordered stopped by the city mayor for over alleged inconvenience caused to the public and lack of coordination with local authorities.

Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara ordered a stop to work being done on the P11.2-million Cabanatuan City-Papaya Road (CCPR) and the 35.5-million rehabilitation of the damaged portion of the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road (NEAR), which spans the adjoining cities of Palayan and Cabanatuan.

Ulysses Llado, head of the DPWH’s 2nd Engineering District based in Barangay San Isidro, here, was served the notice on the grounds of alleged violations of the contractors of the projects – Lisa Construction and FL Reguyal Construction Corp.

The city road is set to be completed in 50 calendar days while the interprovincial road has 175 more days of construction.

“(The projects) severely jeopardize the convenience and safety of the motorists and the general public,” Vergara told Llado in a letter.

He bewailed how no consultation with the city government and no prior approval from the City Council had been obtained for either of the projects as prescribed by law.

The mayor called on Llado to submit detailed plans and specifications, program of works, construction safety and health program and traffic management plan.