Raul Jr. not satisfied with Castillo's explanation on Batiano bridge
Rep. Raul Gonzalez, Jr.
Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzalez, Jr. is not satisfied with the explanation made by Iloilo City District Engineering Office OIC District Engineer Teodoro Castillo as to the delay in the construction of the Batiano Bridge.
Gonzalez said he could not imagine that it took the City District Engineering Office two years to resolve some issues concerning the rehabilitation of the bridge. "I am not satisfied with his answer as it took them (district office) two years to decide," he said.
The solon requested the national office of the Department of Public Works and Highways for an explanation on what caused the delay on the rehabilitation of the Batiano Bridge. In Castillo's letter addressed to Engr. Joy Untalan, he cited five problems which contributed to the delay.
Castillo identified the factors that affected the immediate implementation of the project: the working area is very limited where in the mobility of equipment needs extra care in order not to endanger the lives and properties of commuters and residents, no alternative route for pedestrians, high voltage electrical wires of PECO needs to be transferred or relocated, removal of several makeshift shanties adjacent the bridge intended for the space and mobility of equipment and removal or pruning of trees.
He was also informed that the original project design for the rehabilitation of the bridge was changed. It was the DPWH national office which made the project design. The regional office of the DPWH helped before the conceptualization of the new bridge project design.
Gonzalez was amused about Castillo's explanation. He said the budget is already available since 2004 and yet it took sometime for the engineering district to solve such pity problems.
On the budget, Gonzalez has no idea on how the department conducted the bidding and how many percent of the project was already awarded to the contractors. He, however, said the only give P11 million to fund the rehabilitation of the bridge.
Based on Castillo's letter, the total cost of the rehabilitation is P11,021,315.33. It is much bigger compared to the total funds released. And the total funds released for the project is P12,000,000.
"The problem now lies on the department for the delay of the bridge's rehabilitation. The people could not blame me as I have already given them the funds in 2004," said Gonzalez.