TALISAY City, Cebu Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. was dismayed after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its official contractor could not complete the rehabilitation works for the second Mananga Bridge’s northbound lane in Barangay Tabunok by Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019.
Gullas posted on his official Facebook page that he was “deeply disappointed and embarrassed,” after learning that the private firm could not fulfill its commitment at the promised completion date.
The setback led the first-time mayor to apologize to his constituents and to the general public.
Based on the DPWH’s project schedule, the northbound lane was supposed to open for use last March, but the contractor’s work dragged on.
On Thursday, Aug. 1, Gullas and his staff visited the bridge. He asked the contractor why it could not commit to the deadline, but no reason was given to him.
Last month, Gullas met with the DPWH officials and the project contractor, discussing with them the complaints he had received about the slow progress of the rehabilitation project.
The DPWH officials and the contractor promised Gullas that they would finish the bridge rehabilitation by Aug. 4, just a week before the Regent Aguila Ironman 70.3 Philippines race on Aug. 10-11.
“Based on our site inspection, all I saw was that they still need to finish the bridge’s railings, asphalt the road, and have it cured for a few days and have it checked for stability and safety. Despite the construction schedule they prepared and showed me during our meeting last month and their promise to open the bridge by Aug. 4, it disappoints me to find out that those promises were not etched in stone,” Gullas said.
However, the mayor was given assurance that the DPWH would partially open the bridge’s northbound lane to light vehicles during the two-day race to prevent traffic from occurring along the national highway, as the Cebu South Coastal Road will also be closed to motorists during the race. The race’s bike leg will happen in Talisay City.
After the race, the contractor will again close the northbound lane to resume the rehabilitation works.
Gullas hopes that the DPWH will finish the project at the soonest time possible as Talisaynons have been complaining about the delay’s effect on traffic, especially in the Tabunok area.
“I realized, to my disappointment, that the (DPWH) is not answerable to local chief executives, especially on delayed infrastructure projects,” he said. (from FMD of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)