DPWH to suspend construction works at slope protection project in Sogod

Local

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will temporarily suspend construction works on the slope protection project along the North Cebu Hagnaya Wharf Road during the Undas season.

This was the initial agreement reached between the DPWH and the Municipality of Sogod, under which the temporary suspension of roadworks will be implemented from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.

The move aims to ensure smoother traffic flow and prevent heavy traffic in the area as an influx of passengers and motorists is expected during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) will coordinate with the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) of Sogod to ensure public safety and implement traffic management measures in the area during the said period.

After the Undas holidays, the DPWH will resume construction works.

Officials from the DPWH-7, headed by Assistant Regional Director Engr. Nonato Paylado, attended the Oct. 26 regular session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan to discuss the status of the ongoing slope protection project in Sogod following landslides in previous months and the heavy traffic experienced by motorists in the area.

DPWH officials told provincial board members that the project is now 60% physically complete.

However, the agency and its contractor have encountered several construction constraints that have affected the progress of the works and contributed to delays in completion.

These include unstable slope conditions requiring excavation and the removal of loose materials; difficulty accessing the upper slope, which requires clearing and excavation to establish an alternative road; and limited space for disposing of excavated materials, which must be hauled away using dump trucks.

The DPWH also said that additional slope protection measures must be implemented.

According to Paylado, the original design scheme for the project involved rock netting, which was considered the most appropriate method. However, the DPWH identified certain issues with the method and decided to defer its implementation for the time being.

“So we were trying to seek some sort of exemption, pero wala gyud ta mahatagi og approval, so we resorted to another mode. So based on that particular change in the original design, we really have to resort to this excavation, starting from the top, kay if we take note, kaning EME nga slope, almost vertical gyud siya,” Paylado explained.

Provincial Board Member Stanley Caminero asked whether the agency had consulted or informed the local government unit (LGU) of Sogod or the Cebu provincial government about the change in methodology. Paylado admitted that they had not.

He cited that the province has an existing ordinance requiring national government agencies to consult the Cebu Provincial Government prior to the implementation of their projects or initiatives.

Paylado said the DPWH 5th Engineering District initially consulted LGU Sogod on the planned slope protection measures, however, the subsequent changes made by the agency were not informed to the LGU concerned.

“Our apology, Mr. Chair, because when we changed our method, it was initially initiated by our district so that they would be able to really push with the project immediately. As far as informing the LGUs about the changes, our apology on that matter, Mr. Chair. We were not able to do that,” Paylado admitted.

Caminero pointed out that the failure to inform the concerned local governments was a significant lapse, as the change in the slope protection construction methodology contributed to the prolonged road closures.

Liga ng mga Barangay President in Cebu Province and ex-officio board member Celestino “Tining” Martinez noted that construction in the area had been ongoing for a year, causing heavy traffic and posing risks to motorists and other road users, particularly because of recurring rockfalls.

The DPWH proposed a full road closure for two months, subject to the approval of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to allow the contractor to proceed with the project without interruptions.

The DPWH said the contractor could complete Phase 1 within two to three months once the necessary arrangements and approvals are secured.

The agency also committed to clearing and improving identified alternative routes and establishing a detour capable of accommodating two-way traffic so that construction in the affected area could proceed without interruptions.

Sogod Mayor Richard Streegan said the LGU had already met with DPWH officials and agreed on measures to address the concerns, including traffic management measures, alternative routes, and a possible truck ban during certain hours.

He said they wanted to fast-track the construction works in the area, as the project had become a subject of blame and criticism directed at the LGU, even though it was a national government initiative.

Paylado said that once Phase 1 is completed, traffic flow in the area will no longer be interrupted, and the traffic interruptions currently experienced in the area are not expected to recur during the Phase 2.

Phase 2 of the project has not started as the DPWH still has to secure funding for it.

The Provincial Board has requested the DPWH to submit a formal letter of request to the Office of the Governor, with a copy furnished to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, so that the provincial government can take the appropriate action.