Despalo clarifies ‘project defects’ report
City Engineer Luis Despalo yesterday clarified reports insinuating that the city government tolerates defective infrastructure projects stressing that the city is not remiss in its obligation to guarantee that quality and standard projects are implemented.
Despalo said while it is true that some flaws are noted in some projects, the city government, specifically the City Engineer’s Office is undertaking steps to make sure that the concerned contractors tasked to implement the projects are complying specifications to the letter.
The city engineer issued the clarification in reaction to a published report headlined “Defects on government road concreting projects bared“, which accordingly is based on an investigative report of a local radio station.
In the case of the Lantawan, Pasonanca road concreting project which was cited in the published report as “already defective though newly constructed”, Despalo said the project is not yet accepted by the city as the contractor needs to undertake corrections.
The city engineer shared the view of Pasonanca barangay chairman Efigenio Julian who faulted some residents in the area for forcing their way through the newly concreted road, which is still in its curing stage.
Utilizing the road while still in its curing stage would damage the concrete, he said. “But the city has not yet accepted the project because the contractor has yet to comply with some corrections”.
The published report also cited the road concreting project in Putik to which Despalo said is still under the warranty period and that the contractor is liable for any flaws in the project. The project was inaugurated and turned over January 5 this year.
“We have noted the flaws and the contractor had already been directed to make the necessary corrections”, the engineer said.
Meanwhile, contrary to the published report, the Sta. Catalina road concreting project has not been inaugurated, nor accepted by the city, as it is still in the process of inspection, according to Despalo.
“We are checking these projects”, Engr. Despalo assured adding that “we will not leave these projects unattended, we will make sure that the contractors will comply with the requirements”. (Sheila Covarrubias)