A SHORTAGE of cement is slowing down the repair and upgrading of the Baguio City Athletic Bowl.
Pepe Felipe, site supervisor for RUA Construction, said the oval project is behind schedule since the start of June because cement deliveries are delayed.
Felipe said the pouring of concrete around the oval should have been finished as early as June 10.
“We have the equipment and manpower but because the cement suppliers do not deliver, minimal lang ang output as of the moment,” Felipe said.
Felipe said local contractors have been feeling the shortage of construction materials for the past weeks.
“We are not the only ones affected. If you notice, the other projects of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) especially road works, are delayed as well,” he said.
He said 7,000 cement bags were needed for the concreting of the oval.
“As of the moment nasa 70 percent naman na ang completion ng pag-sesemento nitong oval lang, although almost may one third pa na walang buhos ng concrete naka-plot naman na yung ibang materials gaya ng mga bakal,” Felipe said.
Seven hundred more bags are needed to finish the job, Felipe said.
The DPWH Baguio City District Engineer’s Office said it will try to speed up work at the oval to complete it before the rainy season starts.
“We are really making sure that we will meet the August 8 deadline for phase two, although some circumstances are uncontrollable we are trying to persuade RUA Construction not to waste time in finishing the project,” DPWH-Baguio Chief of Construction Alfredo Bannagao Jr. said.
A total of P110 million was allocated this year for the second phase of the oval’s rehabilitation. Mark Victor Pasagoy