Cotabato lawmakers demand transparency in road projects

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Members of the Municipal Council in Arakan town in North Cotabato have asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to be transparent in their road concreting projects at the Arakan Valley Development Complex on Antipas-Arakan highway.

In a resolution submitted to the office of Engineer Mamintal Taha of the DPWH First Engineering District, the town council of Arakan said they demand from the Cotabato First Engineering District copies of the status reports of the projects as some of these are already abandoned by the contractors.

Arakan Councilor Leonardo Reovoca, chair of the committee on infrastructure, said since the construction of the project started, they were never furnished copies of the project design and program of works.

"We want transparency. We want to know what's the status of these projects and why did the contractors abandon them?" said Reovoca.

Reovoca said because of the pressure from the community he passed SB Resolution Number 12-07-624.

"Our commuters, including van drivers and motorists, who are greatly affected by the project have asked many times the Arakan LGU (local government unit) and the legislators on the status of the road concreting projects, so we want answers from the DPWH," the resolution said.

At least four road concreting projects were erected along the Antipas-Arakan highway since 2011, data showed. Three of these were under the Sarangani Rock Mixer, a General Santos City-based contractor.

The 200-meter road from Barangay Luhong to Barangay Kiya-ab in Antipas, which is part of the Arakan Valley Development Complex, was supposed to be completed last December 8, 2011.

Some P14-million budget, which came from the regular infrastructure fund of the DPWH, were allotted for the project.

Also, the Sarangani Rock Mixer has another road concreting project in Barangay Pontevedra along the Arakan Valley Development Complex highway.

The road project from Barangay Naje to Barangay Doruluman in Arakan town was also under the same contractor.

Taha said the Sarangani Rock Mixer has asked to withdraw from these projects, after suspected members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) burned two of their heavy equipment last February.

All of these road projects were bannered by Cotabato Representative Nancy Catamco as among her priority projects.

Yet none of these projects were completed as of this time.