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CEBU CITY, Philippines - Just a year and a half after it was opened to the public, a new road connecting the cities of Toledo and Naga in Cebu is already showing signs of disrepair.
Toledo City Councilor Arthuro Mendoza said that at least three areas of the 37-kilometer Naga-Uling Road are ?defective,? and may cause accidents for those who are not familiar with the road.
?It seems like the road was not made well,? Mendoza said.
The councilor brought up the matter with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who met with Toledo City officials on Monday.
The governor held a consultative meeting with the city officials before the Cebu Provincial Board?s out-of-town session in Toledo City at 2 p.m. on Monday.
The session was held at the club house of Carmen Copper Corp.
During the consultative meeting, Mayor Arlene Zambo also brought to the governor?s attention delays in the provincial government?s release of concrete for their joint concreting program.
Under the program, the Capitol supplies the materials and heavy equipment to make concrete roads of at least 100 meters long while the city?s barangays (villages) supply the labor.
Zambo, however, pointed out that only 15 of the city?s 38 barangays have received their share of concrete.
Provincial Planning and Development Officer Adolfo Quiroga explained that 23 of Toledo City's barangays were not yet given their share of concrete due to their failure to liquidate previous assistance from the province.
Quiroga, who was at the consultative meeting, said the cement could be released earlier if the barangay officials ? most of whom are newly elected but have to liquidate the assistance released to their predecessors ? issue a certification that they would accomplish the liquidation.
Steel posts for the electrification program of barangays Canhumangao and Putting Bato would also be released soon, Quiroga said.
Concerns over the Naga-Uling Road will be dealt with separately, Capitol officials said.
The road was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in April 2007. The project was implemented by a Cavite-based construction company.
But despite being relatively new, the road is already damaged, said Councilor Mendoza, head of the City Council?s committee on infrastructure and public utilities.
He said a portion of the road around a kilometer from the Naga City border has already sunk at least five inches.
Also, a section of road near the Das National High School as well as another section right outside Barangay Das has shown signs of deterioration.
?I visited the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) engineering district office and they told me they couldn?t do anything about it because the project has not been turned over by the contractor,? Mendoza said.
Garcia was surprised to hear that the project was still not in the hands of the DPWH. She instructed Quiroga to schedule a meeting among Capitol officials, Toledo officials, the DPWH and the contractor, Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp.
?I want the meeting as soon as possible. It?s going to be a waste if this isn?t addressed quickly,? Garcia said.
City officials also noted that the road lacks illumination.
