LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Motorists and residents vehemently denounced the alleged insensitivity of local and public works officials and the incompetence of contractors in the implementation of major infrastructure projects along main roads in the province that result to tremendous traffic congestions daily to the detriment of the welfare of the public.
Motorists and residents who are inconvenienced by the lackluster implementation of the upgrading of a portion of the Halsema highway along Camp Dangwa, Tomay and Km. 6 accused municipal and provincial officials of being insensitive to their plight for ignoring their calls for better traffic management and the contractor’s inability to heed the call of the public for better workmanship and scheduling of the works on his project to lessen the burden of the public.
The sources blamed the DPWH First Benguet Engineering District for their current dilemma of being stuck in the daily traffic jams for allowing the winning contractor of the project, Javen Enterprises, to sub-contract the project to a certain Juniper Mosling who is not able to effectively and efficiently implement the project causing tremendous inconveniences among the motoring and commuting public.
The sources claimed that the project started last May and expected to be completed this coming September has already resulted to tremendous losses among the businessmen and residents living along the stretch of the highway because of the inability of the contractor to closely work with the barangay and local officials to first identify the problems and decide on possible solutions to mitigate the effects of the project to the public.
It will be recalled during the term of former Governor Nestor B. Fongwan, Sr., all concerned stakeholders are invited to deliberate on the possible problems that will arise in the implementation of major projects in main roads around the province and the potential solutions to mitigate the problems that will be caused by the projects to the public.
The sources claimed the complaints on the project has reportedly fell on deaf ears because the contractor has not actually improved the work, thus, motorists are always caught in tremendous traffic jams along the main road.
According to them, having to wait for more than three months for the completion of the project is already too much for them as they already suffered much since the project started, thus, DPWH First Benguet Engineering District and the contractor must institute mitigating measures to lessen their burden and for local officials to intervene so that the contractor will be compelled to heed their call.
The sources asserted residents and motorists are losing their trust in the local officials because of their alleged blatant failure to intervene in the current situation.
The project that involves re-blocking, concreting, drainage improvement among others has a total project cost of P20.8 million but it was bid in the amount of P19.4 million and funds were from the agency’s regular infrastructure program.
By HENT
