Councilor Alberto Ungab objected to the report made by Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.’s (AAII) on the 100% road restoration report during a regular session at the City Council on Tuesday.
Ungab, chairperson of the Committee on Appointment and Government Reorganization, opposed the report saying he passes these roads every day and observed that something is wrong with those roads.
“These are destroyed roads. The other roads are not passable, the roads you said were fixed. We want a real update on the presentation. I hope you check all those roads. It’s not about the report. It’s not about what you are saying here, try to check the roads and you can see the difference,” Ungab said.
Arturo Milan, director of AAII reported that Apo Agua has restored 100 percent of the road works covering 35 kilometers of roads affected by the firm’s pipe laying activities.
“We are happy to report that we have restored 100% totaling 35 kilometers of roads affected by our pipe laying activities. These roads affected by our pipe laying works are 100% restored. Meaning, no more barricades or barriers and are now open to vehicular traffic,” Milan said.
Milan said of the 35 kilometers of restored roads, 32 kilometers are the roads that were directly affected by the pipe laying activities while AAII added three kilometers as per assessment and identified and agreed upon affected adjacent lanes.
Breaking it down the accomplished roads, the eight alignments covered the eight optic points of Apo Agua connected to Davao City Water District (DCWD) Water Supply System covering the barangay near its water treatment facility in Barangay Gumalang in District 3 up to Barangay Indangan in District 2.
Milan also reported that Apo Agua has made road restoration close out with the barangays and presented to the following barangays in District 3: Brgys. Calinan Proper, Lacson, Gumalang, Wines, Tawantawan, Tambobong, Tamugan, Tamugan River, Riverside, Biao Joaquin, Talandang, New Valencia, and Bantay Bukid clusters. In District 2: Acacia, Buhangin Proper, Mandug, Indangan, Cabantian, and Tigatto.
“We also have presented the current status of roads on the national highway under the DPWH regional office and DPWH District Engineering Office in Tugbok. Barangay officials have found these project updates informative and helpful to their respective info drive with their constituents. As recommended by this council during the last session, Apo Agua has walked through as coordinated with DPWH 11, DEO in Tugbok, CEO, and CTTMO through walk-throughs and meetings on the completion of our road project,” he said.
Milan asserted that it was verified by the CEO that all roads affected by pipe laying are 100% restored.
“Of course, there may be cracks along the way but it is part of the wear and tear but there is a warranty for one year,” he said.
Confronted by Ungab, Milan asked if these deteriorated road conditions were assessments prior to or after the pipe laying works of the road.
Ungab said it is after the pipe laying works.
“It took more than three years before you were able to complete the road, you cemented the road after how many months? The roads were already not passable. Some of the roads are not passable and if you check there, there is a portion that was never worked. No infrastructure works were done. Why don’t you check it yourself personally?” he said.
Ungab said these roads are around the boundary of the Talomo River and Calinan.
“Please look at that and please check the warranty of those roads. Some portions are not passable anymore. These are the roads which were dug before by Apo Agua or whatever or whoever this construction works there,” he said.
Milan promised that Apo Agua would look at this immediately.
“Anyway, this is under warranty for one year. So any defects will be rectified,” he said.
Apo Agua appeared before the City Council following the call of Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte in March this year to the DPWH and all other entities and contractors currently conducting road projects in the city to coordinate with the City Transport and Traffic Management Board CTTMB) and to secure necessary permits before conducting any activity that will impair road conditions in the city.
This is after he noticed passable roads that are in good condition, which have already started to break and excavate while there are still a lot of road projects that are left unfinished, which are all causing inconvenience and pose risk to the safety of the public.
