A Cebu City official has identified the “poor programming” of the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) for the construction materials stored at the engineering stockyard – some of which have remained unused for at least 10 years.
“They are supposed to predict what is needed and buy only what is needed,” said Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, chairman of the Cebu City Council’s committee on infrastructure.
Cabarrubias was referring to the continued storage of culverts, bags of cement, hollow blocks and steel bars at the engineering stockyard at the South Road Properties (SRP).
Cabarrubias said the continued storage of these unused construction materials would cause them to deteriorate, which would eventually result to a waste of government funds.
“I wonder why these materials remain unused when a new delivery of culverts were added to the city’s stockpile,” he said.
The newly delivered culverts are now kept near the pond A of the South Road Properties (SRP).
Cabarrubias brought the issue up during yesterday’s session after he saw that the construction materials had remained unused since he visited the stockyard in July last year.
He also called for the presence of City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez in their session to answer questions on the stockpiling of unused construction materials.
“In this penny pinching situation, we in the government service should practice the art of conservation in terms of power, use of government vehicles, materials and many others,” said Cabarrubias in his privilege speech at the session.
Cabarrubias was referring to the 100 pieces of 60-inch wide culverts, which were used as a fence for the engineering stockyard compound near the city motorpool.
He was also referring to at least 400 bags of hardened cement, hollow blocks and steel bats that were placed on the soil. Each bag of cement is estimated to cost at least P210.
Cabarrubias said that part of the construction materials were kept under the shade of makeshift tents while the rest were exposed to elements.
“I did not make an issue of it because I was waiting what will happen next. How they would use the materials,” he said.
Cabarrubias said that to date, the materials remain untouched.
The culverts are now starting to darken an indication that it has been kept in the area for at least decade. About 400 sacks of cement have also started to harden while the hollow blocks are beginning to break.
Cabarrubias said the culverts and cement were intended for the city’s self help drainage project and drainage maintenance project.
The hollow blocks were for the self help projects by the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).
“This is a waste of government funds,” Cabarrubias said.
Cabarrubias said that ideally, cement bags are not to be placed directly on the soil. These are supposed to be stored only for three months. Cement starts to harden beyond that.
“If you would only see the condition at the stock area, you would feel pity for the city government,” he told CDN.
He also asked why the city government was buying hollow blocks when the city owns at least five hollow block makers, which are stored at the city’s stockyard.
He said the city government could make its own hollow blocks using the hollow block makers.