The Department of Public works and Highways–Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) wants the revocation of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) it earlier forged with the city government relative to the construction of a multilevel parking building at the Wright Park because of the alleged evident defects on the implementation of the project and the contractor’s non-compliance to the approved plans, specifications, and quality of the project.
In a letter sent to City Environment and Parks Management Officer Atty. Rhenan Diwas, the DPWH-BCDEO claimed that the contractor of the multi-million project allegedly failed to present project documents such as project logbook, materials logbook, concrete pouring plan, concrete pouring permits, and materials test results based on the results of the site inspection conducted by technical personnel last July 10, 2023.
During a meeting with the authorized CEPMO representatives last July 7, 2023, the DPWH officials directed the immediate stoppage of the construction for the meantime and to immediately issue site instructions and notice to repair work on all noted defects and deficiencies to the contractor to determine all structural components inconsistent to plans and specifications through excavation per column to ascertain the dimensions and elevations of footings, tie beams, and grade beams.
However, upon inspection, it was found out that the contractor allegedly did not get a written instruction from the CEPMO.
The DPWH-BCDEO alleged that the contractor, on his own initiative, performed measures which are reportedly unacceptable and not in accordance to proper corrective methodologies that will ensure the safety and stability of the structure being constructed.
According to the agency, it was also noticed that there were only two laborers who were present and working on site during the said inspection.
The DPWH-BCDEO explained that written instructions were already issued on May 29, 2023, June 20, 2023 and July 4, 2023, respectively, to the CEPMO reminding the said office to direct the contractor to undertake appropriate actions on the previously noted defects but immediate actions were not allegedly appropriately acted upon by the contractor as the same did not yet get any written directives from the implementing office.
Among the noted defects of the said project include insufficient and improper installation of project billboards; no geotechnical investigation have been conducted, no gravel bedding laid out under structures on fill; stockpile of fine and coarse aggregates are unclean; insufficient installations of scaffoldings/H-frame to support long column reinforcements; insufficient bending of ties and stirrups; improper location of reinforcement splices; improper installation of reinforcing steel bars of columns leading to a twisted column; reinforcing steel bars are already rusty; improper consistency/slump of concrete mix; no copies of test results of reinforcing steel bars shown at the time of inspection; improper termination of concrete pouring of beams; no installed shear rods; no tie beam installed at the part of the project which leads to an ongoing investigation of all parts of the project with tie beams on the plan; improper plumbness and alignment of columns; no test results for concrete poured footings, beams and columns; no project log book and materials log book and inadequate staking out of the project with no benchmark reference that was established; insufficient batter boards at the project site which mainly contributed to misaligned beams and columns including the leveling of the presently accomplished structures.
Moreover, the DPWH-BCDEO stated that during the inspection last July 10, 2023, the inspectorate team directed the two laborers present on site to excavate one of the columns to check if tie beam was constructed underneath but the prescribed tie beam was not found.
Moreover, the laborers were instructed to further continue the excavation until exposing the footing and do the same to other columns for verification and investigation.
The inspectorate team also measured the center to center column distances to check the lay out of the building which was previously instructed to the CEPMO personnel and it was found out that the layout on some of the columns on site does not conform to the approved plan. Column G-1 and I-1 were allegedly mis located by almost half meter.
The DPWH-BCDEO admitted that the inspection was conducted without the presence of CEPMO personnel despite the verbal notice relayed to them in the morning of July 10, 2023. Only the project engineer of the contractor, Engr. Albien L Asuncion, was present.
The DPWH-BCDEO also demanded the city government to submit to the agency pertinent documents of the project such as project log book, materials log book, concrete pouring plan, concrete pouring permits, materials test results, notice to repair work, including approved work suspension orders, approved resumption orders, approved contract time extensions, approved variation orders, and copy of payment vouchers for advance payment and progress billings if there were any for its reference and guidance and project evaluation. Contributed article
