BAGUIO CITY – The implementation of various infrastructure projects in the different parts of the city is just a waste of public resources which were supposed to have been utilized for other projects beneficial to the greater majority of the people in the remote villages in the country,” former Rep. Benardo M. Vergara said here recently.
He cited he finds no reason for repeatedly digging up already concreted pavements for the sake of putting in place appropriate drainages when planning dictates that the first structures that must be put in place would be the drainage system before placing the concrete pavement among other structures for the convenience of motorists and pedestrians.
“We cannot understand why a newly concreted pavement is being again dug up for the putting in place of appropriate drainage system when in fact, the drainage system should have been the ones that were installed prior to the concreting works. It is just a waste of public funds which should have been given out to other areas that need more road projects to spur economic growth in the countryside,” Vergara stressed.
The former lawmaker underscored that implementing agencies could not avoid accusations by the ordinary citizens that the on-going infrastructure projects lack appropriate planning and they were implemented for the sake of utilizing available funds that were earmarked by the public works department for the different congressional districts when the city continues to be in dire need for more schoolbuildings, health facilities among other major infrastructure projects to cater to the rapid growth in the city’s population as a result of rapid migration.
According to him, the implementing agencies and contractors assigned to work on various projects should be sensitive to the convenience of the public that is why those who should be assigned to work for such infrastructure projects are those contractors with sufficient financial and technical capabilities who can work double time just to complete the work to lessen the burden of the public on tremendous traffic congestions among other related problems.
Vergara asserts contractors and the implementing agency should be sensitive about the plight of the public regarding the on-going infrastructure projects that is why they must start studying ways and means on how to mitigate the serious negative effects of prevailing traffic congestions to the city’s economy and the conduct of normal business activities around the central business district area.
Once elected as the city’s lawmaker, Vergara cited that he will make representations with the concerned government agencies for them to revisit the existing policies related to the implementation of public works projects so that there will be a holistic planning that should be done to avoid the repeated digging up of already concreted roads to avoid waste of public funds.
He claimed the conduct of appropriate planning strategies coupled with the appropriate modes of implementation will help reduce the impact of the implementation of public works projects to the state of economy of a certain locality.
By Herald Express News Team
