BAGUIO CITY September 02 – Technical personnel of the City Engineering Office (CEO) and the Department of Public works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) are studying possible solutions to address the slippery condition of the tactiles that were placed along sidewalks in the different parts of the city.
Engr. Januario Borillo, chief of the CEO traffic and transportation management division, disclosed that there was a supplier of anti-skid solution that offered its product to be applied over the tactiles to reduce the slippery condition of the tactiles to prevent the further occurrence of untoward incidents that pose a serious threat to the safety of the pedestrians that accidentally step on the tactiles.
However, he claimed that the effectivity of the anti-skid solution in addressing the slippery condition of the tactiles is still under evaluation and assessment by the assigned technical personnel of the local government and the DPWH-BCDEO.
Further, the CEO official stipulated that there are also other suppliers who have similar anti-skid solutions but the tactiles must first be soaked on the same for a certain period of time before being placed on the sidewalks to be used by the visually impaired persons as directional guide for them to be able to reach their desired destinations.
Borillo disclosed that the local government and the DPWH-BCDEO are also working on the proposed removal of the tactiles that were placed on narrow and slopping sidewalks pursuant to an earlier agreement that sidewalks having a width of less than 1.2 meters should not be provided with tactiles.
According to him, all possible solutions on how to address the slippery condition of the tactiles are being carefully studied by both the city and the DPWH-BCDEO to ensure that the best available option will be the one that will be implemented to avoid future issues and concerns that will be raised against the implementation of the project.
He assured residents and visitors alike that the city and the public works department are fully aware of the issues and concerns that were earlier raised by the concerned sectors during a recent regular session of the city council and the same are being given the necessary attention to solve the slippery condition of the tactiles and avoid the occurrence of future incidents that might compromise the safety of the public.
He advised the public to strictly adhere to the installed signages reminding them not to step on the tactiles because it is slippery when wet which might cause the occurrence of accidents that might inflict life-threatening injuries to them.
Earlier, the DPWH-BCDEO and the local government embarked on a P194 million sidewalk improvement project that included the installation of tactiles for the use of the visually impaired persons as directional guide. The DPWH-BCDEO earmarked some P184 million while the local government provided a counterpart of P10 million for the said project.
Based on data obtained from the DPWH-BCDEO, at least 98 percent of the sidewalk improvement project was already completed by the contractor before the same was suspended because of the various issues and concerns that cropped up.
