Rama wants SRP tunnel checked

IS the South Road Properties (SRP) tunnel leaking? Mayor Michael Rama wants it checked.

He told reporters yesterday that an individual who saw first-hand a leak on the side of the tunnel, informed him.

Sun.Star Cebu informed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 about the mayor’s pronouncement and the agency immediately sent a team to inspect the tunnel.

The leak is nothing alarming.

A team from the planning and design division of the DPWH 7 was composed of Engrs.

Mario Montejo, Joshua Monsanto, Waltham Obenario and Larry Villegas.

“The reported leakage was due to the accumulated water coming from the weep holes located at the bottom end section of the wall near and adjacent to the sidewalk,” the team’s report read.

Water overflowed from the clogged and silted drain on the sidewalk, it added.

The weep holes are there as a measure to catch water seepage.

“It is recommended to clean and unclog the drainage and weep holes immediately in order to drain off the water properly. This problem is not serious and nothing to be alarmed of,” the team’s report concluded.

Pictures of the “leaking” area were attached to the report. There was a picture showing a silted waterway where the water from the weep hole flows. This was taken on the sidewalk of the tunnel. There were also pictures taken from different angles.

Rama would have wanted to inspect the area himself yesterday after his regular press conference but said some coordination was needed with the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom).

“I wish DPWH would have done also its share,” Rama said.

DPWH 7 did.

Rama will also ask Cebu City’s structural engineer to check on the matter. He said he will summon the DPWH 7, Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), Citom, South Road Properties (SRP) Management Office and City Administrator Jose Marie
Poblete on the matter.

Barangay San Roque Captain Rogelio Ruizo also wants to check on the leak as the tunnel is located in his barangay. Last night was the first time he heard of such a thing, but he said he would check on it today.

Barangay Captain Pancho Ramirez of neighboring San Antonio said he was told last week that motorists heard an explosion inside the tunnel. Traffic was stopped but there was no collision or busted tire in the vicinity.

No leak was mentioned.

DPWH 7 Assistant Regional Director Juby Cordon confirmed that Engineer Montejo, officer-in-charge of the planning and design division, conferred with an agency consultant about the reported leak.