Monday, February 04, 2008 San Fernando officials blame ‘big’ trucks for road damage
HAULING trucks, carrying loads heavier than what the roads were built for, are to blame for the disrepair of roads in San Fernando town, officials complained.
The 14.417-kilometer road spanning Barangays Sangi to Bugho was only completed in 2006, yet appears as if it never underwent concreting and asphalting work.
At least 900 meters of the road were concreted. In 2004, 7.83 kilometers were asphalted, followed by 5.68 kilometers in 2006.
Mayor Lakambini Re-luya and members of the municipal council brought up the matter with the governor, who scheduled a meeting between the officials and San Fernando-based company Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc.
“How shall we solve this? The road cannot stay the way it is,” Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia told both parties.
Presentation
Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre, in a presentation, noted that two haulers often use that road.
He said that 20-ton trucks pass through the road an average of 38.25 times a day. The road only has a capacity of 10 tons.
The Cebu Provincial Engineer’s Office staked out the area for four days to find out the average.
Taiheiyo too, has its own trucks that use the road.
“Since we cannot do away with hauling, we should make the road ready for 20-ton trucks,” suggested San Fernando Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy. Garcia agreed.
Permit
Reluya also noted that while some haulers had a permit from the municipality, other companies who haul from Pinamu-ngajan also use the San Fernando road.
Garcia said these companies should also get a permit from San Fernando.
Taiheiyo, as user of the road, offered to work hand-in-hand with the Municipal and Provincial Governments.
It offered to cement one kilometer of road per year, in eight years. This translates to 14,000 bags of cement every year.
Garcia wants the entire 14-kilometer road paved in concrete, which is more durable.
Pelayre suggested a cement-treated base for the road to make it more stable. He said that this is already tested as a methodology in some of the provincial roads the Capitol paved. (JGA)
