THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region XI was quick in refuting allegations inscribed on a billboard citing causes of the delay in the completion of the flyover project at Crossing Maa-C.P. Garcia Diversion Highway and Magtuod Road.
In the billboard, the major claim is that the release of the project’s budget has been withheld by the national government after the Dutertes started their political disagreement with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his administration.
Another allegation cited thereat is the supposed failure of DPWH XI to settle road-right of way issues. But according to the agency, the budget for the flyover has already been released. In fact the completion rate is already at 82 percent plus, adds the government infrastructure agency.
The DPWH, however, admitted that there are still remaining properties, which are already being worked out or nearing resolution.
Another factor causing the delay, the DPWH said, is the facilities of utility companies like electric poles and telecommunication line and posts that have yet to be transferred. But the DPWH said these last two bars in the continuation of the flyover construction was the subject of a coordination meeting among the DPWH, the power distribution firm, and the telecommunication companies.
As to the land sought to be acquired for the project, the negotiations have been hindered by the properties’ status. Most are used as collateral for bank loans by the owners.
Indeed, only the extremely partisan Davaoeños will not believe the explanation of the DPWH. The only thing that the agency did not anticipate is that the delay was seen by the anti-administration as one major armament they could use to heat up their fight against the President and his people.
And think of it. The DPWH should have been proactive. It should not have waited for the anti-administration to put up billboards showing what the latter believed as the reasons for their suspicion for the delay, or perhaps the stop of the project construction.
Had the DPWH come up of its explanation much earlier it could have negated the negative effect of the billboard munition.
Unfortunately, some officials at the DPWH XI appeared to have been sleeping on their job. Or possibly, do not know their role in preventing the “enemy” from taking advantage of the agency’s “weakness.”
Now we are again reminded of this “white elephant” of a bridge project spanning the creek that serves as the boundary of barangays Catalunan Grande and Tacunan in the city’s first and third districts, respectively.
The concrete bridge, about 15 meters long, has no approach at its Tasunan end. Its Catalunan end has its approach but it is not yet connected to the barangay road leading to Catalunan Grande.
We had been calling the attention of the DPWH and the City Engineer’s Office (CEI) believing that the bridge could either be a national government project or that of the local government of Davao City. The bridge itself has long been completed. As far as we could remember, the construction was finished while the country was still towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now the bridge has instead become the favorite resting place of goats after each day’s roaming the nearby pasture.
Meanwhile, neither the DPWH nor the CEO has come up with a statement on the unused bridge as to why it has no approach at the Tacunan end and the approach leading to barangay Catalunan Grande has not been connected to the barangay road.
We are again tinkering with the idea that both the DPWH and the CEO would still be using the right-of-way issue as a reason for the non-utilization of the long-finished concrete span.
As far as this particular infrastructure project, we cannot help but be reminded of the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Only this time it is the reverse. It is now “Troubled Bridge Over Calm Water.”
We are just wondering if there will be people or groups who will dare come up with placards with insinuations of the reasons for the long-finished bridge.
And by the way, the project was implemented during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte whose rabid followers are the likely promoters of the billboard ammo against the Maa-CP Garcia-Magtuod still-unfinished flyover project.
Honestly, though, those who did it did the right thing. The DPWH could not have been jolted into realizing that it is closely monitored by the people.
And the agency must heed the message of what is mentioned in the billboard. Otherwise, its top officials will eventually prove the charges true.
