Davao del Norte former provincial governor Rodolfo “Dolfo” del Rosario Sr. said that the P2.6-billion flyover project in Tagum City initiated by former House Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez is not necessary.
Del Rosario said on Saturday that the construction of the project that started in 2017 is not the right solution to address the growing vehicular traffic that Tagum is currently experiencing.
“For me, putting up a flyover is not the solution. Why not put up traffic lights and hire more traffic enforcers?,” he said.
The former governor who also served twice as cabinet secretary and several terms as congressman and assemblyman said that Tagum City has several diversion and bypass roads that motorists whose destinations are outside Tagum need not enter the central area of the city.
The veteran politician was referring to travelers bound for Davao Oriental and certain towns of Compostela Valley and even Surigao del Sur who can take the road starting from Kilometer 48. This is also true with motorists and cargo trucks from Bukidnon who can take the Laac road.
The former governor charged that the Tagum flyover did not undergo proper public consultations required in government big-projects wherein huge amounts of taxpayers money are involved.
“As far as I know, the project started without any advice from the national government,” said del Rosario, who sat in the Regional Development Council of the Davao Region when he was chief executive of Davao del Norte.
In a previous report, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, a political ally of Congressman Alvarez, claimed that the project had undergone public consultation process.
Mayor Rellon’s claim was however belied by incumbent Davao del Norte Gov.
Anthony “AGR” G. del Rosario, son of former governor Dolfo. The young del
Rosario, who is running for congressman against Alvarez in the province’s FirstDistrct, said that the first ever public hearing on the project was conducted only on April 23, 2018, when the first phase of the multi-billion peso infrastructure project was almost completed and the next phase was about to start the following month.
“When AGR (Anthony del Rosario) asked for the minutes of the meetings during the alleged public consultations from Rellon, what they submitted were mere minutes of the meeting with the contractors,” the elder del Rosario said.
He said that the flyover project was strongly opposed by former Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy, as it will destroy the aesthetic view of the city.
Rosario, who is running for congressman against Alvarez in
the province’s FirstDistrct, said that the first ever public hearing on the
project was conducted only on April 23, 2018, when the first phase of the
multi-billion peso infrastructure project was almost completed and the next
phase was about to start the following month.
“When AGR (Anthony
del Rosario) asked for the minutes of the meetings during the alleged public
consultations from Rellon, what they submitted were mere minutes of the meeting
with the contractors,” the elder del Rosario said.
He said that the
flyover project was strongly opposed by former Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy, as
it will destroy the aesthetic view of the city.
“Many businessmen opposed the project, saying that the profitability of their businesses will be adversely affected by it,” del Rosario said.
The flyover controversy is often discussed in traditional and social media, with residents, motorists, and operators of business establishments near the vicinity of the construction site criticizing the dust haze building up in the area among other complaints.
Some netizens and hecklers in social media have even renamed Tagum as “Dubai del Norte”, comparing the city of DavNor to Dubai of the United Arab Emirates for its dustiness.
Edge Davao is still trying to reach out to Mayor Rellon and Congressman Alvarez regarding this matter.
