Several councilors, during the Sangguniang Panlungsod session on Tuesday, questioned the data on the restoration of roads affected by the pipe-laying for the bulk water project – as reported by an Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. representative – which showed a 100-percent completion rate.
Davao City Councilor Alberto T. Ungab asked AAII to check the Calinan to the Talomo River portion, which still needs repair based on inspection. He said some portions remain not passable despite being repaired as claimed by AAII.
“In as much as those particular roads that were fixed last year, not even a year [passed] but [the roads] are already broken there are already cracks, these are already destroyed roads. I don’t know how or why, that is why I am asking before if there is a warranty because the other roads are not anymore passable. The roads which you said you have fixed are not anymore passable,” Ungab said.
Ungab challenged the representative from AAII, Director Art Milan, to check these roads so they would see that the state was contrary to their claim. He said that the road at the boundary of Talomo River and Calinan had not been fixed at all. This damage was noted after the pipe-laying and road repairs were done.
Davao City Councilor Javi Campos III also told the AAII representative that they should keep their promise of not only to restore roads but to improve them.
“Your lane might have been restored but adjacent roads have been affected due to the delays of the project,” Campos said, adding that road repairs are needed on the long stretch in Mandug.
Meanwhile, Councilor Bonz Andrei Militar also demanded that AAII restore to its original state the stretch of road from Calinan to Talandang wherein one lane was damaged as it was used as a single lane, while the digging and road restoration under the bulk water project was ongoing, and was delayed for a time.
“As responsible organization and a partner of communities, the Apo Agua must ensure that the roads are properly restored. If you are indeed genuine to your commitments to ensure that the affected roads especially those which are in good condition before you destroy them but be restored in original state or better,” Militar said.
In response, Milan said that they will closely look over the issues raised. He said that they are continuing the conduct of assessment on the status of roads. He added that the roads they have restored have a warranty of one year, so for one year any defects will be rectified.
Milan added that they are closely coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the City Engineer’s Office.
He also said that they will continue to assess the roads, even as he added that these are subject to wear and tear for being open to vehicular traffic.
City Engineer’s Office Representative Engr. Sharon Bonguyan said that they partnered with AAII and DPWH to check on the completion of the road repairs.
She also said that the discussion with AAII and DPWH on May 8, initially mentioned by Milan during the session, involved only the 100 percent completion of the pipe-laying activities.
“While it is true that we had a discussion with the Apo Agua Management and DPWH last May 8, the 100 percent mentioned by Sir Milan was the completion of the pipe-laying activities…. We have formed a composite team with DPWH to schedule an [inspection] of finished pipe-laying projects of Apo Agua. They have yet to apply for a certificate of completion to be issued by either the City Engineer’s Office or DPWH, but they are under(taking) the road repairs,” Bonguyan said.
Bonguyan said that all road restoration projects are accounted for by the CEO and they commit to give priority attention to concerns raised by councilors about the road restoration.
She added that the CEO has asked AAII to restore additional damaged roads, taking action on citizens’ concerns filed through the Davao City Reports portal. CIO
