THE Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) will no longer push through with the fly-over project along McArthur Highway due to opposition from various sectors.
DPWH-Davao spokesperson Dean Ortiz told SunStar Davao in a phone interview on Tuesday, January 19, that the road-widening project covering Sandawa Road to Tulip Drive Junction was supposed to be implemented in preparation for the construction of the 1.7-kilometer Maa Flyover project worth P600 million this year.
But Ortiz said the P1-billion road infrastructure project will not push through after encountering opposition from the business sector and environmental groups.
The official said they decided to terminate the major road project as it would entail massive work because of the powerlines of the Davao Light and Power Company, water pipes of Davao City Water District, and cable lines from different telecommunication lines.
"It would somehow be difficult to implement," Ortiz said, adding that interruption in basic utilities could paralyze the city.
He also said that this is in response to the opposition of various environmental groups, as the road widening project will cut down the 60 to 70-year-old trees outside the Ateneo de Davao University's Matina Campus to give way to the construction of a lay-by.
This outcry was backed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and the 19th City Council, saying there must be an engineering solution in such a way that even if the project pushes through, the trees should remain there.
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. lobbied in the council to enact an ordinance prohibiting the cutting of heritage trees within urban areas of the city.
Ortiz also said "the project was terminated on the ground of convenience under the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulation of the Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), taking into consideration of the position of the local government unit as well as the business and landowners that will be affected by the project."
"The Procuring Entity may terminate the Contract, in whole or in part, at any time for its convenience," the DPWH official said.
He added that "head of the Procuring Entity may terminate a contract for the convenience of the Government if he has determined the existence of conditions that make Project Implementation economically, financially or technically impractical and/or unnecessary, such as, but not limited to, fortuitous event(s) or changes in law and national government policies."
Ortiz said they already sent a formal letter to Duterte-Carpio notifying the city of the termination of the project.
In a previous SunStar Davao report, the McArthur flyover project was proposed to address the looming traffic situation in the area, particularly during rush hour.
But he said the ongoing construction of the Davao City Coastal Road and the Davao City ByPass Road is already pegged to address the traffic situation in the area.
He also said DPWH will still pursue the construction of junction Maa-Diversion Road-Magtuod flyover, which has an initial allocation of P400 million for 2021.
First District Representative Paolo Duterte first mentioned in a press conference on Monday, January 18, that the fly-over project in McArthur will no longer push through due to various problems it might encounter in the construction.
Duterte, who was working on the appropriations for the city's infrastructure project, said he was informed by the City Administrator's Office that the fly-over project is no longer included in its priority project.
"Naningkamot mi ron sa Congress sa Appropriations nga amo nalang gi-realign, and gibalhin sa Diversion Road [Maa-Diversion Road-Magtuod] (We are working on the Appropriations committee to realign the budget for the proposed Maa-Diversion Road-Magtuod flyover)," the House representative said.
Ecoteneo Director MyLai Santos told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that they lauded the termination of the project.
"This news brings a sigh of relief that our trees will be spared. We hope to continue being part of the reflection and research on how we can address the traffic situation in a sustainable manner. We hope that the road infrastructure will support the plans of Davao City for sustainable transport: less private cars, more efficient public transportation, and a walkable/bikeable Davao the latter will be good for business too," Santos said.