I know; the title is grammatically wrong. But that is done on purpose because I just came from a briefing and field observation of a government project I never thought would get off the ground.
Now it is reality. The three billion pesos, a three-kilometer project that will certainly serve and will be of much use to thousands of Tacloban and Palo, Leyte residents as wel,l as visitors and tourists.
I am referring to the Tacloban-Palo Diversion road and drainage system project. If you are from the place or are familiar with it, the project starts at Pawing, Palo near Camella meanders near NIA office, Tacloban V and G and Marasbaras area and Palo, and exits near Payapay Area in the southern part of San Jose, Tacloban right into the causeway in the beaches of Palo and Tacloban, just a few kilometers to the Tacloban International Airport Project
Unique Features
It is a project with many unique many features. This seems to be the first one of its type implemented by DPWH in Leyte. It is a unique combination of a large 10-meter wide waterway in between two-lane roads, with street lighting all the way, end to end. It will be a sight to behold at night and certainly a very functional infrastructure by day.
But the road raises questions. For example, there is already a road in the southeastern part of Tacloban and there is another highway in the traditional Tacloban-Palo highway.
So why the project? Good question. Maybe this is a priority because Camella Subdivision is nearby. Don’t ask me who owns Camella Subdivision.
Money Talks
Another issue which DPWH has resolved is that the owner of the lot in the opening of area of the project contended that when he bought the lot, the road and flood control project was not supposed to pass through half of his lot of ten thousand meters. The contractor of the project bought lots beside his project (engaged in a speculative buying spree) and made sure the project will not pass through his property(not impossible for one who had the connections).
DPWH says the owner knew of the project was going to pass through his lot but proceeded to fill it up with filling materials anyway, before the project started. DPWH suspended implementation by six months to settle the issue. I was told the contractor of the project simply paid the landowner. End of issue. Money talks.
The Regional Project Monitoring Committee members who were with the observation team will recommend proper documentation of consultations made with landowners so a delay in project implementation like this will not happen. Also, a project should never be started when the landowner has not been paid, even partially, just compensation.
Unless Budget Is Tripled
In the course of the briefing, I was told that the project would cost three billion pesos but “only” 450 million pesos has been released. If this trend continues, the project will take another 5 years to complete. We are looking at a lot of flooding in the area for five more years. Unacceptable.
Therefore, the Committee will recommend that the project be accelerated and completed by 2026 and the national government provide appropriate funding in the next two years.
No, sir. Unless that budget per year for this project is tripled, there will be more flooding, so the phrase “it ain’t gonna flood no more” is premature. It will have to be modified into “there will be more flooding some more, unless the national government acts quickly”.
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