City Council calls out DPWH-Davao for project delays

Providing additional incentives or benefits to those who brave the heat to keep our economy running during weather disturbances is fair and shows our commitment to their wellbeing.

SEN. JINGGOY ESTRADA Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources

THE Davao City council urged the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) to properly communicate and coordinate with the local government, and implement corrective measures to address issues on project delays with emphasis on road works that contribute to the severe traffic conditions in the city.

Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., during the city council’s 13th regular session on Tuesday, said they have already invited the DPWH-Davao for several sessions with the intent of fostering a relationship of cooperation and coordination. However, given the prevailing sentiment of the local government, there is still an existing insufficiency that needs to be addressed.

The city council invited the DPWH-Davao to several sessions following frequent complaints regarding road works spearheaded by the agency that were delayed and have caused severe traffic conditions. Mahipus said that these projects were not properly coordinated with the local government, making the LGU unable to provide answers to the public.

“Let me just put on record for the benefit of the public na itong mga nakikita nila na mga road projects na matagal matapos, naga-cause ng traffic very seldom na galing yan sa atin. These are funded by the national government or national agency is the one that is implementing it,” he said.

Mahipus also said that the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) already manifested that the local government already provided resolutions approving traffic management schemes to address existing road works. Concerns pertaining to the delay in the completion of road works, however, kept coming.

Mahipus said CTTMO representative Atty. Eduardo Perez IV claimed that there was already an agreement with the DPWH-Davao which the latter allegedly failed to follow.

Meanwhile, Dean Ortiz, DPWH-Davao’s spokesperson, said that they were abiding by the City Transport and Traffic Management Board’s (CTTMB) resolution and that they will review the issues on the delayed projects to implement necessary sanctions for contractors who fail to follow the guidelines and corrective measures.