Lawyer renews call for probe on Infante flyover
Alim
Former City Councilor Joshua Alim has called on the Iloilo City Council, under the leadership of Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, to conduct an investigation on the P480 million Infante flyover.
In a sworn letter addressed to Mabilog, dated May 19, 2008, Alim took notice of the absence of warning devices on load limit capacity, lights at nighttime and emergency pedestrian lanes on the flyover.
Alim, a lawyer, said such things are very important in infrastructures such as the flyover.
He also noted that no less than Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Rolando Asis admitted in the media that the construction of the Infante flyover was substandard "hence, poses dangers and risks to the people using the flyover as well as those passing underneath, considering the strategic location of the project."
"The Local Government Unit (LGU) cannot simply and outrightly ignore this matter just for the reason that this is a (n)ational (p)roject and beyond its power to look, monitor, and even investigate, if necessary because under Section 16 of RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the LGU concerned shall exercise powers which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare as well as for the preservation of the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants,"Alim averred.
"The one using the flyover as well as those passing underneath are mostly inhabitants of Iloilo City. Let us do something to protect our inhabitants before the worst scenario comes. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure," stressed Alim who once served as three termer councilor of Iloilo City.
Alim also asked Mabilog to urge the DPWH and the contractor of the project, London-based Mabey & Johnson, to inform the public as to the actual total costs of the project in the name of good governance and transparency.
Alim noted that although it has been publicly declared that the flyover amounted to P480 million it was not clear as to how it ballooned to such an enormous amount.
The flyover was opened to the motorists last December 30, 2007 after several months of delay in its completion.
The vehicular flyover is a six-span modular steel bridge supported by board piles, piers and abutments.
The completion of the project was delayed after reports on the discrepancies in the construction of the project came out. The discrepancies which are in violation of the contract between the Philippine government and the Mabey & Johnson, contractor of the project, includes in the construction of piers, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The discrepancies prompted the government to take over the project.
The reinforcement of piers and other remaining works such as embankment, approaches, concreting of abutment and part of the retaining wall in approaches was continued by the DPWH regional office.
As regards the absence of lights on the flyover, it was earlier reported that telecommunications firm Globe Communications offered to sponsor its installation. It was not learned however why up to now no lights were installed on the flyover.
Alim also furnished the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas with his letter.