BAGUIO CITY – Nine out of the twelve major infrastructure projects being implemented by the Department of Public works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) in the city’s central business district area will be completed before the opening of classes in the public elementary and secondary schools by the first day of June.
Engr. Alexander C. Castañeda, DPWH-BCDEO district engineer, said while there were initial delays in the implementation of the major road repair projects in the central business district area due to the conduct of the numerous crowd drawing events, some of the contractors were able to implement their works in advance compared to the others that is why some of the projects can be completed earlier than scheduled.
“If all the contractors were able to comply with our earlier agreement for them to work 16 hours a day and 6 days a week, the tremendous traffic congestions in the city’s central business district could have been minimized. The mere fact that contractors were awarded their projects should be the green light for them to work double time, especially that the projects are within busy areas of the city,”
He disclosed the projects in the central business district area that will be implemented anytime this month or early next month in order to lessen the traffic congestions are the rehabilitation of portions of Marcos highway, particularly before the flyover, the repair and upgrading of Zandueta St. and the repair and upgrading of Chanum St.
According to him, projects along Bonifacio St., Government Center Road, UP Drive among others will be completed earlier than scheduled because of the round-the clock work of the assigned contractors while the other major projects in the central business district area will be completed before the end of May in order to lessen the expected traffic jams during the start of classes this June.
It can be recalled that there were 68 infrastructure projects that were programmed by the DPWH-BCDEO in the city for this year that were allocated a total funding of P668 million.
However, the DPWH-BCDEO official disclosed 12 projects were programmed for the rehabilitation of roads within the central business district area that is why the simultaneous implementation of the projects caused tremendous inconveniences among the motoring and commuting public.
He claimed some of the projects are buildings and other roadlines outside the central business district area tht is why they are doing their best to work out the scheduled implementation of works in order to lessen the impact of the projects to the convenience of the public.
Castañeda explained the timely completion of the rehabilitation of major roadlines in the central business district area will guarantee lesser inconveniences to the public during the rainy season which is the primary purpose of simultaneously implementing the projects during the summer months.
Moreover, he added the early public bidding of the projects late last year short of award was part of the innovations introduced by the agency in order to complete all projects before the onset of the rainy season.
