Tuesday, August 05, 2008 DPWH told to build concrete roads By Reynaldo G. Navales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A local businessman has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to use concrete instead of asphalt in building roads.
Renato Romero, chairman of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), said this would save taxpayers' money.
Most of the newly-repaired roads including McArthur Highway are fast deteriorating with the onset of the rainy season, he said.
Romero, a staunch advocate of infrastructure development, said asphalt overlay is a common repair work done by the DPWH and other government agencies.
But this technology, he claimed, is just a waste of taxpayers' money because it is very temporary.
"We are not engineers, we are businessmen but we think concrete roads are more solid," Romero said.
He said asphalt might be cheaper and easier to process, but in the long run it is more costly than concrete because it is only usable within six months to one year.
The trader also said the yearly repair of roads also causes inconvenience, traffic and waste problems to the community.
Romero added that most of the funding of the DPWH is used for road maintenance especially on asphalt overlay projects.
He said infrastructure support is very important to ensure vibrant investments in the province and in Central Luzon. He said the government should maximize the use of taxpayers' money by building sound and durable infrastructure projects.
DPWH Regional Director Alfredo Tolentino said the agency is doing its best to maintain the road networks all over the region.
According to him, there were no previous developments or rehabilitation works along McArthur Highway.
He also disclosed that the DPWH has intensified its campaign against overloaded trucks that destroy the highway.
Tolentino added that there were also funds for the rehabilitation of McArthur Highway and that works will start soon.
