MY TWO CENTS WORTH IN ENGINEERING

SLOW DOWN, MEN WORKING. The motorists poked fun on the warning sign. (Since the word SLOW was in big bold all caps letter, it can be interpreted that slow men are working) So they changed the language. MEN AT WORK. It should have been men and machine working. But, be that as it may, whatever warning signs placed, road works should never take so long, as they do in the construction of the Angeles-porac flyover. I am no engineer but I hope my observations can be considered in the future when a flyover is to be constructed, particularly here in Pampanga.

I traveled to Manila this weekend and observed that single posts were constructed in the middle to make traffic flow smoothly on both sides. Unlike those in the Angeles-porac flyover where there are two on both, thus it constricted the road. Heavy trucks passing can’t be made a reason, because the haulers coming to and from Porac will pass underneath the flyover.

The costs could have been lower and the construction speedier. My two cents worth in engineering. As it’s now it is everyone’s guess when the project will be finished. What I heard the project run of funds for its completion.

> RETRO: I always wanted to point out that in 1975, the country was preparing for the hosting of the Miss Universe pageant, and the then First Lady Imelda Marcos tapped Public Works Deputy Minister Aber P. Canlas to build the venue which is now the Folk Arts theater, the one besides Coconut Palace and Hotel Sofitel.canlas built it in record time of seventy days. Our cabalen Aber P. Canlas, the poor boy from Florida Blanca has long been dead. After his retirement, we used to meet at the Heat, the ground floor restaurant of Shangrila Edsa. Sometimes we were joined by the late Forting Aguas of Bacolor town, a former director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Jun Icban, editor of the Bulletin Today.(may they Rest In Peace).

> Credited to him are the Batasan Pambansa building, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Philippine Heart Center and Folk Arts Theater and several others. The stand out is the Folk Arts Theater withstood earthquakes, typhoon and other calamities. To this day it is being used for many grand receptions and functions and was renamed Bulwagang Balagtas.

> Except for the incomplete Angeles-porac flyover, the road network in Angeles City is the envy of some LGUS. Thanks to the partnership of the Lazatin brothers. Congressman Jonjon with the representation of Mayor Pogi caused the asphalt overlay of most of the main arteries. Two vital vital bridges, the Apo Road in Barangay Sto. Domingo and the overpass bridge going to Barangay Pulung Cacutud gave much relief to motorists. Mabuhay kayong dalawa.*