UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Workers do road repairs near Bangkerohan at 3 am to avoid causing traffic in one of Davao City’s busiest roads. The Department of Public Works and Highways vowed to finish road construction projects by December 2016. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – An official of the Department of Public Works and Highways explained it has difficulty finishing its road projects on time due to existing drainage and pipelines of the Davao City Water district.
Summoned by the City Council during its regular session today to explain the the numerous road projects that has caused the city’s traffic congestion, Engr. Milagros Delos Reyes said DPWH has encountered several problems such as putting up a new line of drainage in the inner part of the road, noting that “the outer part of the road had already been occupied by the DCWD and utilities.”
For instance, Delos Reyes said DPWH is facing a hard time in constructing manhole at corner Bankerohan road and Quirino road because of the overwhelming pipelines. The agency is targeting to complete the project by Nov. 1.
The agency’s scheduled road project will be at the intersection of the San Pedro and Quirino street including the intersection of Davao Doctors Hospital.
De los Reyes also attributed the delays in the completion of the road project due to the rainy season and their limited work hours at 9pm to 4am only.
“We are working hand and hand with our Traffic Management Center (TMC), we had meetings before the start of the projects to lay our plans for the traffic scheme and at the time we are working at night there are one to two TMC who is with us,” she said.
DPWH, however, vowed that it would finish the road construction on or before Christmas Day specifically at Quirino avenue.
Councilor Jesus Melchor Quitain Jr., requested last week for the DPWH to appear before the City Council to shed light on the growing traffic congestion in the city because of the road projects.
“When I requested the presence of the DPWH, it is not because they owe us an explanation nor a fault finding but we want to help them and understand why the construction is like this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte said that he is 70 percent sure that the DPWH will finish the project by December this year.
“Hulat na lang ta sa panahon na mahuman, dili na lang ta magdali or magyawyaw kay di mana makasulbad sa problema (Let us wait until the project is finished. We can’t solve any problem if we just rant),” he said. (davaotoday.com)
