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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Public works keen on pursuing flyover
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is still keen on pursuing the flyover project at the Baguio General Hospital (BGH) but Mayor Braulio Yaranon is equally determined to uphold his crusade against the project.
In a recent letter furnished to the mayor by Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) chair Constancia de Guzman, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane said the project is only temporarily suspended as they are still awaiting the issuance of a tree cutting permit from the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.
"Constructions of minor items of work, like slope protection and embankment on the widened road at BGH already started. At the moment, preparation and finalization of the revised as staked plan is still in process due to repackaging of the proposed Variation Order 1," Ebdane said, adding that affected parties had also been notified for possible relocation.
Ebdane relayed the information in his answer to the charges made by Yaranon in a complaint filed before the PAGC last March where the secretary maintained that the project is legal, viable and useful contrary to the mayor's claims.
Ebdane also brushed aside the mayor's claim that the department committed technical malversation as the fund from which it will be financed comes from the excess funds or savings from the rehabilitation of Marcos Highway but that the project includes sections of Kisad Road and Governor Pack and portions of the BGH reservation, which are not part of the highway.
"While it is true that the whole project name construction of the BGH Flyover extends from Marcos Highway to Governor Pack Road, the savings generated from DPWH-PMO-PJH project shall be limited only to the scope of work within the limits of Marcos Highway," Ebdane said.
On the supposed opposition of the Kisad-Burnham barangay against the project, Ebdane maintained that this has been settled through a series of public consultations and public hearings conducted by the proponents at the barangay level and at the City Council from September 1999 to February 28, 2003.
Yaranon however questioned this claim and immediately asked city secretary Ronaldo Perez to certify if there was such series of public consultation ever held at the Council session hall approving the project.
Ebdane also said the project will be beneficial to the city and nearby localities as it will address the traffic problem projected to occur in the area in the near future.
On the mayor's claim that there are sections of Marcos Highway that still need rehabilitation where the fund can be used, Ebdane said the original plan to install cross drains as part of the rehabilitation of Marcos Highway was not pursued due to the opposition of residents in the area.
He also disagreed that the project will affect a line of valuable trees as claimed by the mayor. "The truth of the matter being that, during the course of the planning and design of the project, the planners and designers explicitly considered that only minimum number of ornamental tress will be cut and that the old trees will be spared. Moreover, it is informed that there was already a joint inventory made by this office and the DENR/CENRO regarding this matter."
"This project is foreseen to yield a great impact on the economic activity of the region particularly Baguio City and the adjacent municipalities of Benguet, and its direct effect shall generate employment and boost commerce, which is one of the 10-point agenda of (President) Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo," Ebdane said.
The president earlier said she will ask the contractor of the flyover project to allow the DPWH to abandon the flyover plan and instead pursue project that are more vital.
Yaranon, who hailed the President's pronouncement, said Arroyo's decision was fueled by the local resident's sentiments against the project.
In his letter to the PAGC, the mayor branded the project as "patently illegal and corrupt."
He said the fund for the project, which is estimated to cost P88 million has no corresponding certificates of availability issued by a competent official as required by the law.
The mayor also maintained that the project will affect the city's air quality as it will increase air pollution from vehicle emission of vehicles going up and down the overpass. (Aileen Refuerzo)
(July 13, 2005 issue)
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