Contractors warned on safety, target
Negros Chronicle, August 30, 2009

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Road contractors who do not comply with all requirements and give inconvenience to the taxpaying public will not be considered in the future road construction projects.

Without necessarily naming them, Second District Rep. George Arnaiz warned contractors of the P480 million road projects implemented in various cities and towns to ensure the safety and convenience of the motoring public passing through their project sites and keep up with the target date of completion or it will be difficult for them to win in the biddings next year.

Erring construction firms are reminded that they are supposed not only to provide their laborers safety boots and gloves but to purchase and put up signages, barricades, including yellow tapes, blinking lights as well as hire a medical aid worker and part-time safety practitioner and traffic enforcers for both ends of the roads that are under rehabilitation. This is provided so in the program of work the costs of which the firms have included in the total contract price paid lump sum by the government.

Engr. Edna Ravelo, Chief of the Planning and Design Office, appealed to the contractors to employ these safety and medical laborers and purchase early warning devices, which “they can after all use in future projects.”

Of the thirteen road concreting projects, two have been completed and only five are facing delay for a number of reasons namely: intervention of some local government units, delay of the completion of Polo Bridge in Tanjay City and problems with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The projects facing delays are: Daro-Bunao Road by Bigfoot Construction; CAB-Sta. Cruz Road, Tanjay City; Calo Road Section, San Jose; San Jose Road Section, San Jose and Buswang Road Section, Amlan.

Those already completed are Ajong Road, Sibulan, P 10.5 million by Bigfoot Construction and Access Road Dumaguete Airport for P 9.6 million by HLJ Construction.

Citizens have become increasingly vocal in criticizing the contractors and concerned officials for the apparent delay, inconvenience and lack of safety regulations observed in the ongoing rehabilitation and concreting of roads.

Arnaiz, who was instrumental in securing the funds for the district, admits that “some contractors have committed violations,” particularly in the area of safety and health for both motorists and construction workers. “I have repeatedly called their attention and warned them,” stressed Arnaiz.

However, the neophyte solon concedes, he “can’t stop the contractors now because the projects will just incur more delays.”

He also admits some contractors are behind the agreed schedule of completion but vows to ensure that all ongoing projects will be finished by December 2010.

On August 19, 2009, Atty. Mikhail Lee L. Maxino, Director of the Salonga Law Center wrote Governor Emilio Macias II to elicit answers as to what his office can do to improve road safety in project sites, speed up work and mitigate public convenience. Macias’ response letter was received by some quarters with disbelief and disenchantment when the governor underscored his “non-involvement and absence of control over these ongoing projects.”

Macias counseled those seeking relief to address their questions instead to the Office of the District Engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways claiming that he was “basically satisfied with explanations provided by the agency and 2nd District Rep. George Arnaiz.” Currently, there are eight contractors working for the thirteen road projects with Bigfoot Construction undertaking three; two projects each for Double L Construction and Development Enterprises, HLJ Construction and Enterprises and R.C. Tagala Construction; finally, one contract each was awarded to QM Builders, Legacy Construction, H.S. Oaminal Construction and General Merchandise and Uy Construction and General Merchandise.

The following is the summary of the eleven awarded contract projects to eight construction firms including project name and location, contract amount, contract time, contract expiry, status of physical accomplishments: (1) QM Builders, Bais Port Access Road, Bais City for P 19.2 million, 200 calendar days, contract to expire on October 23, 2009, 65 percent complete; (2) Double L Const., Dumaguete Public Market Road, P 36.4 million 280 calendar days, January 11, 2010, 65 percent complete; (3) Bigfoot, Daro-Bunao Rd. Section, P 7.7 million, 110 calendar days, July 25, 2009, 75 percent complete (delayed); (4) Bigfoot, San Jose Road, P 7.7 million, 70 CD, June 15, 2009, 85 percent complete (delayed); (5) R.C. Tagala, Tapon-Norte Tandayag Road Section, San Jose, P 28.8 million, 200 CD, October 23, 2009, 55 percent complete; (6) HLJ Const., Polo-Tugas, Tanjay City, P 23 million, 190 CD, October 13, 2009, 75 percent complete; (7) R.C. Tagala Const., CAB-Sta. Cruz Road, Tanjay City, P 29 million, 200 CD, October 23, 2009, 30 percent complete (delayed); (8) Legacy Const., Calo Road Section, P27 million, 200 CD, October 23, 2009, 65 percent complete (delayed); (9) H.S. Oaminal Const., Buswang Road Section, Amlan, P 26.3 million, 200 CD, October 23, 2009, 60 percent complete (delayed); (10) Uy Construction and Devt., Tubtubon- Campaclan Road Section, Sibulan, P 33.5 million, 250 CD, December 12, 2009, 60 percent complete and (11) Double L Const., Mainit-Ajong Road Section, Sibulan, P 38.4 million, 280 CD, January 11, 2010, 60 percent complete. (by Dems Demecillo, Negros Chronicle, August 30, 2009)

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