DPWH execs berated for poor project works in Baguio City

By Dexter See 

BAGUIO CITY – The City Council took turns criticizing officials of the regional and district offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways for delayed implementation and poor quality infrastructure projects in the city now causing tremendous traffic congestion and inconvenience to the motoring and commuting public.

The council expressed disappointment over the repeated failure of the regional and district offices of the DPWH to closely coordinate with the local government, public utility companies and other sectors will be affected by programmed infrastructure projects in the city to avoid perennial traffic jams and inconvenience to the public.

Worst, the council stated the DPWH offices seem to take for granted the local government and the public in the implementation of projects by refusing to work round-the-clock that would have shortened the inconvenience suffered by the public, thus, the need for concerned agencies and offices to now strictly impose adherence to the timeline and the programs of work by contractors.

Engr. Edgardo Enriquez, assistant chief of the DPWH-CAR’s planning and design division, apologized to the members of the council and the public for the current tremendous traffic congestions around the city saying they will address the situation.

This, as the City Council, to ease traffic, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance imposing a total truck ban within the city’s central business district area from 6 am to 9 pm amending for the purpose Article XI, Section 10 of Ordinance No. 7-84.

The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated that the use of the central business district roads by 6-wheeled delivery trucks or freight trucks of two and a half ton or more shall not be allowed between 6 am up to 9 pm.

Ordinance 07, series of 1984 was passed to adopt a comprehensive transportation and traffic legislation for the city, providing for the administration and enforcement of the said local legislative measure.

 It was learned that the prevailing truck ban in the central business district area is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 Yangot claimed that it is apparent that with the sudden increase in the city’s populace as well as vehicles coming in and out of the central business district, monstrous traffic jams occur earlier than the usual time in the morning and reaches up to 9 pm.

 He said that due to this, it is proper to amend the existing truck ban time to minimize traffic congestions, inconvenience and maintain smooth traffic flow within the central business district area.

The ordinance was referred to the committee on public utilities, traffic and transport legislation for study and recommendation after the conduct of sufficient public consultations.

Yangot added the city’s worsening traffic congestion is aggravated by the numerous construction activities undertaken by the public works department in various parts of the central business district drainage system.

He said smooth flow of traffic in the city could be facilitated with proper discipline among drivers, pedestrians, contractors of public works projects and the public, who all need to adhere to traffic rules and regulations.

He appealed to the commuting and motoring public to strictly observe traffic rules and regulations as part of decongesting traffic in the central business district area, especially during rush hours.