BAGUIO CITY – SunTrust Properties, Inc. requested the Department of Public works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) to immediately restore the damaged reinforced concrete pipe culverts and sewer line pipes along Gibraltar Road which must be completed before the holiday season.
The company cited DPWH-BCDEO committed that the agency will start working on the lower part of Gibraltar road, replace the damaged reinforced concrete pie culvert and manhole and simultaneously be assisted by personnel of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) in the restoration of sewer lines.
Further, coordination with CEPMO in locating tapping connections of the sewer lines were undertaken in preparation for the restoration of the damaged culverts.
ON the other hand, SPI committed the completion of the riprap for the DPWH to start their task as evidenced by the completion of the wall along lower Gibraltar Road.
Moreover, the company and DPWH-BCDEO personnel agreed that works specified should be done immediately to complete the restoration of damaged portions of Gibraltar Road which was supposed to be during the holiday season.
However, SunTrust noted that no one from DPWH-BCDEO implemented the agreed works before the holiday season which caused the delay in the completion of their committed works, thus, the DPWH is being reminded to immediately act and respond to finish the restoration of Gibraltar Road for it to be opened to the motoring public and lessen the inconvenience of local residents and visitors.
Based on the joint inspection conducted by SunTrust and CEPMO personnel in the portions of Gibraltar road, it was determined that the sewer pipe owned by Ibay’s Zlon Hotel and the private sanitary pipes coming from the Mines view Park stalls laid along the pavement over the SunTrust Properties, Inc. were damaged by the contractor of the drainage improvement project being implemented by DPWH; the damaged have been aggravated when portions of the roads collapsed due to the earthmoving activities done by the company wherein the exposed pipes were broken, detached and fell; a dye testing was done and it was found out that the Ibay’s Zion Hotel was clogged at the newly constructed drainage manhole and part of the dye test liquid found its course through the drainage line; the sewer line from the Mines view stalls, including the pipe going to the entrance of the Good Shepher Convent were totally damaged by the same drainage contractor and while waiting for the restoration of the damaged pipes, the waste water from the hotel is then directed and impounded at the lot of Suntrust below.
In his letter to City Engineer Elpidio Garabiles, Suntrust cited the sewer waste are seeping to the reinforced concrete pipes which were supposed to have been closed by the said office and that the waste are supposed to flow through the sewer lines but the sewer waste is flowing on the walls above the Suntrust property.
If this is not solved, Sunttrust noted that the soil will erode again and will worsen the problem and that the same must be immediately inspected and rectified the soonest before the situation in the worsens.
By HENT
