Capitol SP approves infra committee's tougher nat'l road action
Immediate formation of a composite team. Immediate repair of severely-damaged road sections. Directive for the prohibition of asphalt-overlay in damaged roads because of heavy-loaded trucks.
Such formed part the three-pronged approach of the Committee on Infrastructure following last week's committee hearing relative to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) management of Iloilo's national roads.
Approved and adopted by the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP), committee chairman Second District Board Member June Mondejar submitted the report and corresponding recommendations.
Contained in Committee Report No. 05, series of 2008, Board Member Mondejar laid down the three resolutions reached on three issues of concern.
"On the 1st main concern as to why asphalt overlay was applied notwithstanding the passage of overloaded ten-wheeler trucks everyday, Engr. (George) Suy clarified that he does not know about it because he became the district engineer of the DPWH 4th Engineering District just a few months ago. The asphalt overlay solution did not last longer and was proven ineffective and a waste of people's money," excerpts of the committee report went.
Second concern was then explained that primarily focused on preventive measures relative to damaged national roads caused by overloaded-ten wheeler trucks.
The committee in consideration of said concern sought for SP support on a call for the Regional Director of the DPWH "to coordinate with the immediate organization of a composite team…"
Said composite team, as suggested by the committee, will be equipped with needed weighing scale and conduct checkpoints. Drivers of overloaded trucks will correspondingly be apprehended.
Board Member Mondejar went on to further report of budget allocations pegged at P27 million for the improvement of Mandurriao-San Miguel section and P28 million for the Alimodian-Maasin section.
Such, he pointed out, were the immediate actions to resolve the current problem.
Yet as provided in the committee's recommendation – no asphalt overlay please.
The committee made official its request directed to all district engineers "not to apply asphalt overlay on the damaged sections of national road frequently passed by the loaded ten-wheeler trucks."
The approval was reached in yesterday's regular session.