Bangui mayor assails DPWH ‘substandard project’

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

BANGUI, Ilocos Norte—The local chief executive here has assailed a multi-million slope protection project being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office for its alleged defective stone masonry works and use of substandard cement mixtures.

According to Bangui mayor Fidel Cimatu, the slope protection project located along the zigzag road of a national highway at Brgy. Baruyen is just four months old but it has already started to deteriorate.

Based on inspection initiated by the Municipal Engineering Office, Engr. Albert Balualua attested the eroded portion of the slope protection project of the DPWH have no footing foundation which means the boulders are not intact and they have noticed poor cement mixture.

“Because of this, it is prone to cracks especially if there is an earthquake,” said Mr. Balualua backing the mayor’s claim that said project was substandard.

To date, the project contractor is conducting restoration on the eroded portion of the project but according to Mr. Cimatu, “it is just a make-up.”

In view of this, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan conducted a public hearing on October 12, inviting concerned DPWH personnel from the district and regional offices to explain the procedure and the specific roles of the implementing agency.

According to SP member Da Vinci M. Crisostomo, the objective of the hearing is to come up with an ordinance to strengthen the participation of the local government units or end users of any project within their respective jurisdiction, regardless of who is implementing it.

Due to lack of personnel tasked to monitor a lot of on-going regional projects of the DPWH, Engr. Angelito Dian of the DPWH regional office admitted this could probably be the reason why some of the defects of the projects are not closely monitored.

“If they [contractors] do it right, there should be no problem,” said Engr. Nestor Pasion of the DPWH Ilocos Norte first engineering district.

The DPWH earlier warned contractors with defective projects due to the use of inferior or substandard materials will no longer be eligible to participate in future bidding of projects.

Comments

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become...

Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida By Dominic B. dela Cruz ( Staff Reporter) Nueva Era , Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities. “Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester, ” Garvida said. Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel...

P29 per kilo rice sold to vulnerable groups in Ilocos region

BBM RICE. Residents buy rice for only PHP29 per kilo at the NIA compound in San Nicolas town, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. The activity was under a nationwide pilot program of the government to sell quality and affordable rice initially to the vulnerable sectors. (Lei Adriano) San Nicolas , Ilocos Norte —Senior citizens, persons with disability, and solo parents availed of cheap rice sold at PHP29 per kilogram during the grand launching of the Bagong Bayaning Magsasaka (BBM) Rice held at the National Irrigation Administration compound in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte province on Sept. 13, 2024. “ Maraming salamat Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa inyong pagmamahal sa Region 1 lalong-lalo na sa bayan namin sa San Nicolas,” said Violeta Pasion, a resident Brgy. 18 Bingao in this town. The low-priced grains were sourced from the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) contract farming with irrigators' association members in the province. Along with Pasion, Epi...

The Ilocos Times

Search This Blog