THE P60-million road concreting project in Bogo City that was approved for funding in September last year reportedly remains unimplemented.

Some Bogo City officials demanded an explanation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 for its failure to bid out the Lapaz-Banban-Cayang Road project, which was included in the agency’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) 2019 and was facilitated by the office of Sen. Richard Gordon.

The city is under the first district engineering office (DEO) of DPWH 7.

Celestino Martinez Jr., the city’s former mayor, said the DPWH 7 had conducted bidding for the 2019 projects, but the Lapaz-Banban-Cayang Road project was excluded.

For his part, DEO head Godofredo Laga Jr. said they will conduct the bidding for the project once the General Appropriations Act 2019 is approved by President Duterte.

The project cannot be awarded to the winning bidder yet because of the prohibition on public works spending from March 29 to May 12.

DPWH 7 Director Edgar Tabacon said the Department of Budget and Management had issued a circular allowing DPWH to conduct about 80 percent of their projects’ allocation, and the awarding will only be done after the approval of the national budget for this year.

On Sept. 1, 2016, Gordon assured to improve the Lapaz-Banban-Cayang Road when he visited the city for the contract signing with incumbent Mayor Carlo Martinez for the construction of the northern Cebu branch building and blood bank of the Philippine Red Cross, which is also chaired by the senator.

After the contract signing, Gordon asked the mayor in what way he could extend help to the city in terms of projects.

The standard procedure in requesting for funding from the Senate starts with a letter-request from the local chief executive and it should be supported with a resolution from the council and a program of works.

The younger Martinez said he complied with the requirements. He requested for P87.3 million for the road project, but Gordon told him that only P60 million was approved. (EOB)