Gibraltar road to close

ROAD closure is imminent for residents of Gibraltar.

Department of Public Works and Highways Engineer Alex Castañeda, Suntrust representative Basilo Almazan, village chief Bonifacio Ducas with Sister Mary Guadalupe Bautista of Good Shepherd Convent faced the city council to resolve the growing problem of the thinning Gibraltar pavement.

Almazan, Suntrust first vice president for legal led the team who faced the city council Monday afternoon, detailing a timeline of events leading to collapse of the Gibraltar road.

During the session, aldermen were quick to contain finger pointing by asking how

to address the problem of the diminishing road to which the DPWH, Suntrust and the barangay vowed to help at the soonest possible time.

It was agreed within the week a plan of action will be made to address the problem with a possible road closure to give way for the repairs of the damaged areas.

In a presentation, Almazan said site clearing began in July 2015 leading to excavation work in January of 2016 allowing the company to set up wire meshes for slope protection in March with soil tests giving them the green light to proceed.

Almazan said it was in April when the problems began after the Department of Public Works and Highways began rehabilitation of drainage systems within the developing area.

The Suntrust representative detailed how a series of meetings and collapses in Sections A and B of the project were caused by faulty pipes installed by DPWH through its contractor G.A Flores which contributed to the soil conditions and erosion of riprap walls.

Castañeda countered a miscalculation of scale and height by Suntrust is a factor in the collapse saying seepage of water caused by the alleged faulty pipes installed is not enough to bring down the entire foundations of the road.

Almazan said it was in January 2017 when it was discovered that there are cross drains on site which contain sewage waste contributing to the collapse of the walls made, erosion of soil which led to the continuous thinning of the road.

The councilors were in agreement an obvious danger to life and property has been posed by the construction work along Gibraltar which now has caused the road to slowly thin and collapse.

Tower Condominium residents, sisters of the Good Shepherd Convent as well as residents in the area have opposed the expansion of the original 6-storey building as early as 2015 which they allege caused the collapse of the road and foul odor from a sewage pipe.

Feedback from all parties will be awaited by the local council.