Cervantes-Mankayan Road implementation on track

by SC Aro

La Trinidad, Benguet (25 July) — The implementation of the Cervantes-Mankayan National Road project is still on track despite the observed sluggish work performance brought about by the heavy rains this season.

The Provincial Board presided by Vice Governor Crescencio Pacalso made an audience last week with Project Manager Xiao- Jia, the contractor of the national road project representing China Harbour Engineering and the Department of Public Works and Highways Philippine-Japan Highway Loan Project Management Office represented by its Project Manager Francisco Sawali, to clarify allegations on slow project implementation.

Sawali admitted that project implementation is slow but they are still way ahead of schedule by 16.2 percent. The reason for the slow project accomplishment is due to the heavy rains, he added.

As of July, actual accomplishment reached 55.3 per cent as against the targeted accomplishment of 39 percent according to Sawali.

The P682 million project funded under the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), now Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is initially targeted to be completed by February 15, 2010 was extended to May 2010 due to variation in project design. The project involves a 31.55 kilometer road stretch.

The details of the project are improvement of existing gravel road to concrete originally designed as asphalting, replacement of drainage system and slope protection structure, improvement of bridges, and the provision of traffic safety measures.

There were suggestions made by members of the board based on the observations gathered such as consideration of the redesigning of slope protection for more reinforcement. It was observed that some of the crib wall slope protection structures were damaged due to the continuous rains.

The board also requested for standby equipment during the rainy season in case of road closure in slide prone areas. The board is also requesting the contractors to construct two toilets along Poblacion, Mankayan and Poblacion, Cervantes. This is aside from the suggestion of Sawali for the board to request from the DPWH.

Should there be some queries, issues or information on the progress of the project, Sawali said they could visit their office located at Mankayan, Benguet. (PIA-Benguet)