Delayed roads: Jeepney drivers reject contractors’ excuses

Men keep working on a drainage construction project on Timawa Street, Iloilo City on a Sunday, in this June 3 photo. Road repair and rehabilitation workers are also racing against time to complete their tasks in time for the opening of classes in all levels and the rainy season. Ian Paul Cordero

ILOILO City – Contractors of government-funded road projects in this city offered a lot of excuses for the delayed completion of the projects, including inclement weather. They never admitted their own shortcomings.

During a conference yesterday with complaining jeepney drivers and operators inconvenienced by the delays, the contractors gave the following excuses:

* water pipelines of Metro Iloilo Water District

* electric posts of  Panay Electric Company

* illegally-parked vehicles

* bad weather

* residents complaining against the noise from heavy equipment

The Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) would have none of these.

“Ang rason nila ulan. Sang time nga mainit ngaa wala nila pag-obraha,” said Raymundo Parcon, president of ICLAJODA.

The meeting between the contractors and jeepney drivers and operators was facilitated by the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

ICDEO is implementing 135 infrastructure projects, 71 of which are road projects, according to Engr. Rodney Gustilo, the ICDEO chief.

Sixteen of the road projects incurred negative slippage, said Gustilo.

Two contractors have so far been recommended for termination, he revealed. These were Legacy Construction Corp. and JHJ Construction.

According to Gustilo, contractors have to make sure they have enough manpower and equipment to meet deadlines.

Even the working hours of the contractors’ men must be adjusted to 24/7 if necessary to meet the deadlines, he stressed.

“Ngaa ang iban nga contractors naka-comply man,” said Gustilo. “Tapos man nila projects nila.”

Jeepney drivers and operators complained particularly the road projects in front of a mall in La Paz district and on Yulo Drive, Arevalo district.

Gustilo said the La Paz road project is actually ahead of schedule. The target month of completion is July this year but the contractor vowed to finish it by June 12, he said.

The contractor of the road on Yulo Drive also vowed to finish it by June 12, added Gustilo.

Early this week, the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) slammed DPWH contractors for failing to complete road projects before the opening of the new school year.

“I appeal to these contractors to work 24/7. They can certainly finish the job if they want to,” said PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu.

The onset of the rainy season could further exacerbate the situation, he warned.

“I cannot understand why they failed to complete these projects during the summer break,” said Conlu.

He urged DPWH to discipline the contractors.

“The city government has been very cooperative with DPWH. We granted its requests for road closures and traffic rerouting to help hasten the completion of these projects. But we are disappointed. It still failed to meet its deadlines,” said Conlu./PN

1 COMMENT

  1. Tanga na Contractor ha ha ha. Damo lang rason tagae na ina LD para madudla. kag indi na tagaan contract sa government. Abi DPWH bayad kamo ontime sa Contractor nyo.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here