Acting with dispatch, Regional Director Josefino Rigor of the department of public works and highways (DPWH) Region VII Monday ordered the removal of the cracked portions of an unfinished project in the Dauis-Panglao center road. The Rigor order came after it appeared that no amount of remedial measures like applying asphalt sealant to the crocodile- like cracks affecting the road project was enough to hide the construction short cut. The project is worth P110 million. It was Cong. Edgar Chatto in whose distrit the project is located who informed the DPWH regional office about the construction anomaly that caught the attention of motorists passing the Panglao center road. Assuming responsibility, Director Rigor ordered the contractors to correct the deficiency as soon as possible before protests from the motoring public mount.
The project is a joint venture of two Tarlac-based construction firms—4 J Construction and Northern Builders. The project was bidded at the DPWH regional office. The DPWH's directive also came swiftly after the Post exposed the road cracks in its issue last Sunday. Following the Rigor order, heavy equipment like a backhoe with breaker, and a grader immediately saw action to undertake the extreme remedial measures of removing the cracked portions of the unfinished paving job. A road roller was also seen at the scene to correct below standard base course preparations. The road mess attracted the “right noises” of road users after it was learned that a continuing cementing project that will extend all the way to Panglao is up for bidding at the DPWH regional office. Costing P100 million, the same road project was reportedly cancelled in an apparent effort to turn off the heat of the on-going road anomaly.
Earlier, District Engineer Celestino Adlaon reported that cracks are only found in the Poblacion (Dauis)-Mariveles portion but an ocular inspection by a Post reporter showed that it goes all the way to Tinago, meaning the whole stretch of the five-kilometer concreting project. In an interview with Cong. Chatto, he said his office would never allow substandard projects. He said appropriate action must be taken to ensure quality of work. As shown from the immediate action of the erring contractors, the fault was in the base course preparations. According to Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala he saw for himself how construction crew poured concrete to a base course devoid of the standard requirements like a mixture of limestone and crashed stones. In the corrective measures undertaken by the contractors, what remains of the removed portion of cracking cement was laid with its aggregate requirements before it was passed over by a road roller. With the brewing road scandal all over local media, the Provincial Development Council lost no time in looking into the construction mess.
The PDC sought the intervention of the DPWH central office to look into the anomaly.
V-Gov. Julius Ceasar Herrera also joined in the fray by supporting calls to investigate the road project in Panglao island adding that being a showcase project, it should be above suspicion. “There should be an honest-to-goodness congressional investigation so the people will know the truth,” Herrera said. The vice-governor issued the statement when asked to comment on the report which appeared in the Post last week.
Even before the concreting work could be concluded, widespread cracks have been appeared on supposedly “finished” portions of the road. “Considering that Panglao is a major tourist destination, the roads on the island should be in good condition,” the vice-governor said. Herrera said that while he doesn't want to prejudge any investigation, the suspicion that the road pavement project is substandard cannot be discounted considering that the project is not even completed. “Definitely, something is fishy here,” he remarked.
Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala raised the issue since the cracks in the road cannot escape the attention of those who pass it regularly like him. The vice-governor wants the cracks looked into immediately otherwise the same thing will happen in other stages of the road construction projects. Any delay in confronting the project can lead to suspicions that government officials are protecting the firm involved in the construction. “These are valid complaints that have to be addressed to prove to our people that we do not condone substandard quality,” the vice-governor added.
Herrera said it will be embarrassing to Boholanos if the quality is not improved because these roads lead right into the tourist destinations in Panglao. The vice-governor added that Boholanos want clear answers to the questions on why the cracks have appeared this early. Herrera said the substandard quality of roads in this project deserves no less than a congressional investigation because this is a very serious matter. The vice-governor said there should be no whitewash because no less than the government's credibility is at stake. “P110 million is a very big amount especially in a district where pork barrel funds are not visible,” he added.
The vice-governor said that after the scandal of the lavish dinners, substandard roads built from the people's taxes is like rubbing salt on an open wound. “If the contractor cannot give a satisfactory explanation, it means that something crooked is going on,” he added. Herrera said that in most cases, the reasons why projects are substandard is because contractors have to recover the expenses incurred due to kickbacks. “If concerned government officials remain silent, the suspicion that money changed hands will be confirmed,” he warned.
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