By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff Reporter
San
Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—As the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continue implementing road-widening projects
and the relocation of electric posts along the national highway, Ilocos Norte
Engineering District II (INED-II) Engr. Mathias Malenab appealed to motorists
and the public for more cooperation.
Mr. Malenab explained that
the project aims to widen the national roads to have a better highway for
motorists, to avoid accidents and to lessen traffic congestion especially
during peak hours.
At present, road widening
projects are being implemented along the national highway in the towns of San
Nicolas, Banna, Pinili and Batac City, each with an approximate budget of PHP20
million, depending on the length of the project.
He stressed that these
projects are the continuing road widening projects of the DPWH for CY 2019 with
100 percent completion before the year ends.
He added that the DPWH will
strictly implement the 20 meters total width of the road or 10 meters from the
center excluding drainage canals.
With the on-going projects, Mr.
Malenab emphasized that there are adequate warning signs and barricades even at
night time as he hopes no one will steal those signs.
“Ta ngamin based on
our experience iti naglabas, taktakawen da lalo no bakal iti barricades
hoping this will not happen again because we are [after] the safety of the
motorists”, Malenab said.
“Sa mga motorista din
natin, sana huwag nang magmaneho kung nakainom dahil no amount of barricades
and warning signs can prevent accident kung under the influence of any
illegal substance,” Mr. Malenab added.
He also reported that his
office is presently securing necessary permits from the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regarding the affected trees for the
road-widening projects.
Mr. Malenab likewise reported
that the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative has relocated at least 200 electric
posts affected by the project.
The
Ilocos Times learned that more than 1,000
electric posts are affected by the road-widening projects for the province’s
second district.
DPWH records show that they
have already paid PHP20 million for at least 500 electric posts to INEC for the
transfer and/or relocation costs based on the INEC-DPWH contract of agreement.
Relative to this, DPWH-INED I
district engineer Maria Venus Torio, for her part said they have no road-widening
project for Norte this year, however, said projects were proposed for next
year.
Ms. Torio likewise reported
that INED-I and INEC are expected to meet this month to clarify legal matters
regarding the relocation of electric posts.
“Medyo mabagal kasi ang
accomplishment ng INEC. Actually, upon payment of the 70 percent of PHP58
million as per our memorandum of agreement dapat nag start na sila e
nagbayad na po kami noong last week of May pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa
sa 10 percent iyong accomplishment nila,” Ms. Torio disclosed.
At least 1,200 electric posts
are affected by the road-widening projects in the province’s first district,
but so far only 57 were relocated.
Records show that the DPWH
first engineering district already paid PHP40 million to INEC for the
relocation costs.
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