Asphalt overlay work under fire
Posted on September 30, 2002 - Filed Under News |
SAN CARLOS—The asphalt overlay project on still undamaged cemented roads in Pangasinan, costing P43 million, came under fire from Rep. Generoso Tulagan of the third district of the province.
In an interview, Tulagan threatened to call the contractor of the project to stand in a congressional investigation by the House Committee on Public Works if he can not make good his explanation why he has not coordinated the project with local officials.
“We’ve got to teach the contractor a lesson,” Tulagan said as he revealed that he did not know of the project nor was it known by the local government officials in towns where the project is now being pursued.
He said the action of the contractor, allegedly from Batangas, contradicts a policy of the Department of Public Works and Highways that any project to be undertaken in every congressional district should be coordinated with local officials.
Fuming mad about his being by-passed, Tulagan rushed to the DPWH central office last week to complain against the contractor who broke the policy of coordination laid down by the agency.
The questioned project is the asphalt overlaying of the road from Urdaneta to Dagupan, passing through Sta. Barbara and Calasiao, and from Dagupan to Lingayen via Binmaley.
Without saying it, Tulagan possibly shares with the observation of his constituents that the project is just a big waste of money because asphalt overlay is being done on top of good cemented roads.
The sad fact is the contractor did not even coordinate with the sub-district of the second highway engineering district led by Bella Resuello.
“The contractor has a lot of explaining to do,” said Tulagan who was informed that the asphalt overlay project is being funded by the DPWH budget through its Motor Vehicle Utility Fund.
He said if he is not satisfied with the explanation of the contractor, he will ask the DPWH to stop payment of his other collectibles.
It appears that the bidding for the asphalt overlay project was done by the DPWH regional office in San Fernando, La Union.
Meanwhile, Tulagan announced the nationalization of four provincial roads, namely the San Carlos-Calasiao road, 10.1 kilometers; Villasis-Malasiqui-San Carlos road, 26.86 kilometers; Mangaldan-Manaoag-Binalonan road, 22.66 kilometers; and Binalonan-Sta, Maria road, 20.45 kilometers.
He said this was contained in DPWH Department Order No. 180, series of 2002, pursuant to the provision of section 5, item (i) of Executive Order No. 124 dated January 30, 1987 signed by Secretary Simeon Datumanong.
Tulagan defended the nationalization of these roads, saying this was recommended to the DPWH because the provincial government has insufficient fund be spent for their repairs.
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