THE construction of the drainage system project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Northern Mindanao was discontinued as underground facilities affected by the project in Cagayan de Oro City should be identified and transferred first.
DPWH-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Vinah Maghinay said the City Government and the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) requested the interruption of the construction as there should be coordination between the DPWH and the underground facilities operators and a traffic scheme should be created.
Maghinay said a meeting was held on Thursday, February 1, between the DPWH, RTA, Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD), the contractors, and the telecommunication companies, wherein they agreed for a joint inspection on the project area to avoid hitting the lines placed underground.
"Kaya po magko-conduct pa muna ng joint inspection para ma-determine kung ano yung mga underground facilities na kailangan i-transfer para kapag nag excavate for the drainage, hindi matatamaan. So yun po ang napagkasunduan nila (That's why we will conduct a joint inspection to determine the underground facilities that should be transferred to avoid being hit during the excavation process)," Maghinay said.
The area of the drainage project will be in the intersection in Butuan-Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Road, particularly the Kauswagan junction where the Savemore Supermarket is located.
According to Maghinay, the drainage project will run from La Castilla, located beside Liceo de Cagayan University, to the Petron Gasoline Station, wherein the area will be under the contractor: Jejor's Construction, and from Savemore Supermarket to the vacant lot, which will be under the contractor: Venray Construction.
"Ang gusto ng RTA na simultaneous sya sa kabilang side yung right lane yung iko-close temporarily, dapat sa kabilang side din, ganun din para ang flow ng traffic iisa. Dapat talaga sya naka schedule at naka set po talaga sya ng maayos (The RTA wants it to be simultaneous. If the right lane will be closed then the other side should be done the same. The schedule of the construction should really be set clearly)," Maghinay said.
She said the budget for the area covered by Jejor's Construction is P134 million while the area covered by Venray Construction is P135 million.
The DPWH-Northern Mindanao spokesperson said there is still no exact date as to when the joint inspection will occur as complete guidelines for the inspection is still being created.