Unresolved road-right-of-way (RROW) problems topped the list of major hitches identified by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao region that continue to delay the completion of infrastructure projects in the area.
In a letter addressed to Davao City councilor Danilo Dayanghirang on Tuesday, DPWH-11 regional director Allan Borromeo said RROW is considered the number one reason behind the delay in the completion of the P158.5-million Widening of Davao River Bridge and Approaches along the Davao City Diversion Road.
Councilor Dayanghirang asked the DPWH on Tuesday to explain the status of the project as it has already caused difficulties to the commuters and travellers that pass through the city’s Diversion Road.
“I am asking they must look into the problem and account for the cause of the delay, details and the progress of the construction,” the councilor said.
He also told reporters that residents are already complaining about the slow movement of the project, saying “the construction is causing inconvenience to the residents and motorists since both roads are being constructed.”
Dayanghirang added that his directive to the DPWH is in line with the Freedom of Information (FOI) order and with the mandate of fast-tracking government infrastructure projects.
“I believe everyone needs to know why the improvements of the project are taking too slow,” the councilor pointed out.
Aside from the RROW problems, DPWH said other situations in the area also contributed to the delay of the completion of the project.
DPWH said that the presence of the DLPC (Davao Light and Power Company) appurtenances at the jobsite which took seven months to relocate and the presence of DCWD (Davao City Water District) main pipe which has not been removed until now continue to hamper the completion of the project.
The agency added that they were also constrained to revise the plan of the project due to the collapse of the subsurface soil during the drilling operations.
“Based on the contract, the project was started in April 15, 2015 and was supposed to have been completed on March 29, 2016. But due to these major plan revisions, the target date of completion has been moved to April 2017.”
DPWH also announced that it has already set aside funds for the second phase of the widening of said bridge that will commence this year.
“This time, with due consideration to the DCWD, we have included an anchorage to carry the weight of their main pipe,” the DPWH said.
The second phase of the project will also complete their objective of accommodating the 6-lane traffic at the Davao River Bridge.
“Rest assured that we are doing everything humanly possible to complete this project vital not only to the efficient flow of traffic but most importantly to the economic well-being of our city,” the DPWH said. (with Tiziana Celine S. Piatos)
