Friday, October 05, 2007 Public works vows to complete new bridge by April 2008 By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Southern Mindanao is appealing for patience and understanding from the Davao City Council for the delay in the construction of the new bridge in Bankerohan.
DPWH-Southern Mindanao director Hadji Pundidato Midtimbang, in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon, assured Dabawenyos that the April 2008 deadline for the construction of the Generoso Bridge 1 will be accomplished by their office.
Midtimbang flew to Metro Manila Wednesday to personally follow-up the program of work for the project.
He said the "delay" was due to the fact that the project is still in the bidding process.
"Nasa process of negotiation pa yung bidding. Malaki kasi ang project na ito kaya medyo natagalan ang bidding. (The bidding is still on the process of negotiation. This a big project that is why bidding takes long). But after the bidding, we will immediately start construction and we will meet the April 2008 deadline," Midtimbang said.
Asked of his reaction on the council resolution asking for the DPWH-Southern Mindanao explanation on the delay, Midtimbang said he will appear before the City Council next week and will give the side of the DPWH on the issue.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang decried the seemingly very slow development on the bridge since it collapsed last March.
"For a highly urbanized city as Davao, infrastructure is one of the main essentials. Unya kung ing-ani kadugay ta pansinun sa National Government sa isa ka importante nga kinahanglan, murag ngitngit pa sa alkitran and ubang mga proyekto na ma-realize," Dayanghirang said in his privilege speech earlier.
He added: "We have to know the real score because the delay of the construction continues to slow the flow of the city's economy and entrepreneurship and affects the competitiveness of the city in responding to the needs of its constituents."
