THE Tagum City flyover underwent a proper process, a government official said, belying reports that it did not.
"Naka lagay yan sa AIP, Annual Investment Plan, dumaan yan sa City Development Council meeting meron proper endorsement to the Provincial Development Council of course na take up yansa Infrastructure Development Council ng Regional Development Council (It was recorded in AIP, it went to City Development Council and it has proper endorsement to the Provincial Development Council and it also went to Infrastructure Development council of Regional Development Council)," Tagum City planning and development coordinator Sonny Manigo said in a phone interview with SunStar Davao Wednesday, January 16.
Manigo said they also conducted public consultation on the project.
"Hindi man pwede hindi pag usapan sa local kasi dito naman i-implement," he said.
He added that the project also passed through national offices such as Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) and National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) since the project was a national project of DPWH.
Last Saturday, former Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo del Rosario said during the Davao Media Forum at Basti's Brew, Victoria Plaza Mall, said that the project did not go through a proper process, saying that it should be submitted to City Investment Plan which will then be submitted to the Provincial Investment Plan to be adapted by the province and to be forwarded to the Regional Development Council.
However, Del Rosario said there were no records in these offices about the flyover in Tagum City.
He added that the project was even tackled in the period of former Tagum City Mayor Rey 'Chiong' Uy but it was disregarded because Uy wanted to maintain the view of the city with trees between roads.
Del Rosario said there was no need for a flyover in Tagum City because before entering the center of the city, there are bypass roads such as Barangay Canocotan and Apokon.
Manigo said that the project started in December 2017 with the budget estimated at P3.2 billion. He added that based on the statement said by the DPWH on their meeting yesterday, the Tagum Flyover project will be finished in December 2019 and will be used by the public in February 2020.
It can be recalled that DPWH 11 chief information officer Dean Ortiz said that they plan to set up flyover that stretches along Pan-Philippine Highway since it is the main road where most vehicles pass through to avoid heavy traffic in the future.