Kwarta o kahon
all the necessary permits before one begins construction. Yet this agency practically closes a very important artery to the public and have caused untold inconvenience to everyone, when the project would end up in a stand off. What is good for the goose should be good for the gander, so to speak. But not this government agency it seems.
Dakong Parusa Walay Hinungdan seems to me as the contemporary meaning of DPWH in the way this agency does its’ job. And many agree. The elevation of CM Recto Avenue between the University of Science and Technology of the Philippines and the Limketkai Center is one example of gross inutility. Many of us raised a howl before and during its construction but the project continued and was completed. Not one person of authority in our City stopped it. And now we have millions wasted over a structure which is not only impassable during flooding, but raised to even higher level of flood waters in neighboring streets resulting to untold losses to businessmen and residents. Are there no engineers at DPWH?
Secondly, why would the private owners refuse the plan when easing the flooding will greatly benefit them. How many of us, avoid going to the area when it rains for fear of getting stranded? The area has even earned the name Lake Ketkai, where flooding engulfs the area around Luxe Hotel, the pride and jewel of hotels in the City. The reason cited in the news reports is the danger of debris from upstream which will clog the planned underground canal and not solve the flooding problem anyway. And I agree. Video footage during one flooding in the area showed debris clogging the covered portion of Bitan-ag Creek, where raging waters overflowed the canals.
And this brings me to ask the third question, who authorized the building of structures covering Bitan-ag Creek and why is it still being tolerated. Was it the DPWH, the DENR or the City Government? An inspection of the structures’ building plans and permits will reveal it, but I just wonder if anyone will be granted access. Furthermore, the same report says that the nature of the contested property is unknown for the documents are missing. But that raises much suspicion on my part. How can an important document, to determine whether it is private or public be missing. And why look for it only now.
I believe that every businessman would want to do things the upright way. The Center even hosts a huge tarpaulin of the BE HONEST campaign of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessman and Professionals. But when government looks the other way, will not enforce and regulate and perform its sworn duty and obligations, then chaos, such as flooding will happen. And believe me, there is more money when there is chaos, but ending up in the wrong hands, and make us, the general public suffer.
Imagine if all eastbound public utility jeeps are rerouted passing only Osmena street to and from Cogon. That would greatly inconvenience the public, discourage foot traffic to LimKetkai Center and result to business losses. But that is the prerogative of the government. But then again, I say that only to illustrate that if government truly has the greater good in mind, it has all the power and authority to do so. But not a government more interested in money than public order.