An official of the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 11) vowed to revisit options on how it can further improve its coordination and not to affect traffic in the city while implementing road projects.
DPWH 11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz told the City Council on Tuesday that DPWH 11 will lead coordination meetings with the City Transport and Traffic Management Board (CTTMB), Davao City Water District (DCWD), and Apo Agua Infrastructura, Davao Light Power Company (DLPC) and telecommunication companies to address road congestion due to delayed road constructions.
“We find this an opportunity for us to improve things pertaining to our relationship with the city government. DIli man nato ma-perpekto ang implementation naa gyud mga contractors na usahay wala naga follow sa atong guidelines. On coordination, it is proper for us to sit down and revisit the options on where we can further improve so as not to affect the traffic in the city,” Ortiz said.
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. underscored the importance of improving coordination and cooperation between the city government of Davao and DPWH 11 to avoid projects causing traffic in Davao City, which creates inconvenience to Dabawenyos.
“I invited DPWH 11 because we want to foster a relationship of cooperation and coordination and frankly speaking I think it’s very clear that the prevailing sentiment of the local government unit there seems to be insufficient, the relationship of cooperation and coordination can still be improved. Why? because whatever DPWH does will affect the communities and if they do not do well, the community will not just point fingers the blame on them but the community will also seek the interventions of the LGU,” he said.
Mahipus said lawyer Eduardo Perez, assistant head of the Transport Planning and Management Division of the CTTMO, manifested that the city is not lacking in terms of policy and cited the CTTMB resolution series of 2023 which is the proposed traffic management scheme of various projects in Davao City.
“But then paulit ulit ang ating mga concerns especially itong mga nasisira na mga daan hindi tayo preparado would cause traffic and the delay in the completion of these projects would be very detrimental to everyhitng in the city gaya ng economic, etc. lahat maapektuhan tayo and the inconvenience and the safety of our people,” Mahipus said.
Mahipus said if DPWH implements road projects without coordinating with the city government of Davao the council will be dumbfounded as to how to respond to the queries of the Dabawenyos.
“Atty. Perez has told us meron na tayong usapan bakit hindi magsunod si DPWH? Hindi ba nagrespeto sa usapan? O sabi ng DPWH hindi lang kami, ang mga kontraktor din. Tapos pag kausapin natin ang kontraktor sasabihin sa DPWH lang kami makinig. Gentleman’s agreement, in fact its a resolution based on our relationship on cooperation and coordination it must be respected. Kagaya ng installations of traffic advisories and signages at critical areas around the city,” he added.
He said he was told by Perez, that although there are contractors who coordinate with the city there are many who do not.
Perez said they have three existing controls: first-issuance of a citation ticket of P2,000 for the contractor; second a penalty of P500 for obstruction for the drivers; and third giving notice to the contractors.
“Dapat seguro itong mga contractors pag hindi nagrespeto sa ating policy hindi na lang sila magnegosyo dito sa Davao,” Mahipus said.
Mahipus said he asked the Business Bureau to generate a list of all registered contractors in Davao City.
He also said that the Bid and Awards Committee (BAC) in Davao City does not allow contractors to join the bidding if they do not have an office in the city.
“At hindi puwedeng booking office lang etc,” he said.
He also said he was told by the Business Bureau which stated that if the project is consummated in Davao City, the contractors must have a permit.
“May I suggest with the presence of DPWH 11 to find a way to require these contractors to have business permits here in Davao City and if that happens we can revoke those erring and non-compliant contractors. But even without it, we have high confidence in the management of DPWH that they have this ability to reprimand their contractors especially itong mga contractors na iba malalaki at taga Davao rin. ang problema natin itong mga subcontractors,” Mahipus said.
