CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has vowed to push through with her plan to file charges against officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH 7) for their failure to address the unfinished road project on UN Avenue in Mandaue City.
In a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, Garcia told reporters that DPWH 7 officials had reached out to her to dissuade her from filing the case against their officials.
Garcia said that now she has been given authority by the Provincial Board to file charges against DPWH 7, she and her lawyers are now identifying the DPWH 7 officials who were involved in the cancellation of the UN Avenue project.
She also threatened DPWH 7 officials who refused to cooperate in providing them documents related to the project that they will also be included in her suit.
Garcia said since the project was bidded in Central Visayas, it falls to DPWH 7’s officials to fix the problem.
She said that she had repeatedly warned DPWH 7 officials during several meetings about the repercussions on delaying the project.
She had proposed to DPWH 7 to asphalt the road first in order to improve the traffic situation in the area.
Garcia said the asphalting of the road was aimed to improve travel in the area even if the DPWH 7’s ongoing legal battle with Leyte-based contractor BM Marketing was still ongoing.
She said the asphalting was an immediate solution to the traffic problem.
“I was asking for their solution. But they refused to say anything. So we will just remain in limbo? We can’t just remain like this. I have to take a drastic action,” Garcia added.
Autonomy
Garcia said that her recent rift with the DPWH 7 is an example on why local government units should remain autonomous.
“Who are they inflicting this burden on the Cebuanos? Nakalimot sila (Have they already forgotten)? They think that they are DPWH, they can do what they want. Yes, you are a national agency but you are within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu. Respect the Cebuanos!” she said.
The governor added that aside from her, some local officials under her jurisdiction have also complained to her concerning DPWH’s failure to address some of the national government projects.
“I think it’s time that we fight for local autonomy. At what extent can they just do and not do their thing within the territorial jurisdiction of a particular LGU,” Garcia said.