THERE'S a new BBM in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and this game-changer trio is fast rejuvenating the landscape in the infrastructure sector.
For this department, BBM means Build Better More, an acronym of Bongbong Marcos, the President's initials.
I dare say, it now means Bonoan, Bernardo, Malaluan.
These three officials are behind important and people-friendly projects in the National Capital Region. The first B is Secretary Manny Bonoan; the second is Undersecretary Robert R. Bernardo, who supervises the operations in NCR along with 7 other regions, and M is NCR Regional Director Lorie M. Malaluan, the indefatigable lady RD of Metro Manila who has mastered the art of maintaining a good working relationship with the region's 17 mayors aside from fulfilling the department's infrastructure commitments with a number of national government offices.
Secretary Bonoan's directive to ramp up big-ticket projects in Metro Manila especially those that have met multifarious problems leading to long delays has been met with swift and timely action by both Undersecretary Bernardo and NCR Regional Director Malaluan.
Mindanao Ave. Extension
A case in point is the Mindanao Avenue Extension in Caloocan City.
This project takes precedence in the order of priorities of the DPWH because of its strategic importance in the traffic lay of the land in northern Metro Manila.
The opening/concreting of Mindanao Ave. Extension Project Stage II-C is part of the road segment of Mindanao Ave. Extension to connect the areas of Quezon City, North Luzon Expressway, Valenzuela City and North Caloocan City. When completed, Mindanao Ave. Extension will connect to General Luis Ave. going to Novaliches and Fairview.
The section from NLEX Smart Connect-Mindanao Ave. Exit to MGM Road with a length of 2.1 km was already opened to traffic and public use in October, 2014. But at present, there is a 320 linear meter gap remaining for the completion of the project, which is being occupied by informal settler families (ISF).
Three DPWH secretaries before Bonoan had tried to connect the gap but failed because of the residents' intransigence and the National Housing Authority's lack of relocation. Since 2018, the DPWH has been closely coordinating with the NHA and the Local Inter-Agency Committee of Caloocan City for the relocation of ISFs residing along the project alignment in Sitio Gitna, Barangay 166, Kaybiga, Caloocan.
Some of the qualified residents have been relocated to the NHA's Camarin Residences 3 also in Caloocan in accordance with Sec. 28 of RA 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.
Voluntary demolition
Firm on their decision to connect the gap of the project, Bonoan, Bernardo and Malaluan moved to give the go-signal for the demolition of the residents on March 14, after following all the legal procedures for such demolition.
Director Malaluan and Atty. Ma. Rocelle Melliza of the DPWH NCR Legal Department said the residents were duly informed about the demolition, as notices were sent several times and markings had been made for the houses to be demolished.
NHA Caloocan district manager Emelina Balaoing, meanwhile said 74 out of 100 families had qualified to be relocated in Camarin while the rest will be transported to the staging area where they will be interviewed and given the proper government assistance.
All throughout the process, government agencies concerned followed the rules to the letter. Regional Director Malaluan said these include several meetings with the Samahang Maralita ng Sitio Gitna, general assembly on tagging and census operation, issuance of 30-day notices, and pre-demolition conference, among others.
Court rejects Samahan petition
The Samahang Maralita ng Sitio Gitna had petitioned the court for a temporary restraining order and any such legal recourse to stop the government from proceeding with the demolition.
However on Jan. 10, 2023, the Regional Trial Court Branch 123 of Caloocan rendered a decision denying the petitioners' prayer for the issuance of a TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction and dismissing the amended petition for prohibition and damages for lack of merit.
Last March 2, the government issued a PAHAYAG to disqualified families and new renters in the affected area, posting and distributing these notices in conspicuous points in the barangay.
Finally, the demolition order and involuntary relocation of residents were implemented on March 14-16, and so the Mindanao Ave. Extension will soon see the light of day.
Thousands of residents in North Caloocan, Novaliches, Valenzuela, Fairview and many other subdivisions in the area can o#nly thanks the Department of Public Works and Highways' game-changing BBM trio -- Bonoan, Bernardo and Malaluan.