IMAG tackles delays in SONA road projects

by Juliet B. Saley

Bontoc, Mt. Province (19 December) — Members of the Infrastructure Management Advisory Group (IMAG) met last December 11 to follow up the commitments made by the contractors on the completion of the concreting of the ongoing SONA(State of the Nation Address) road projects in the province.

The contractors committed during the August. 4 meeting to finish the Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) of the Mt. Data-Bontoc section of the Halsema Highway by end of December this year.

Based on the reports of the different contractors, there is delay in the completion of concreting due to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng which devastated the area causing suspension of work. This is compounded by problems on the Road Right of Way (RROW).

The contractors said concreting is expected to be finished by January to March next year.

For the road right of way problem, Engr. Alexander Castaneda, OIC-Assistant Regional Director of DPWH-CAR and also the SONA Project Manager, asked the contractors to write a letter addressed to Gov. Maximo B. Dalog, who is the IMAG Chairperson.

He advised contractors to list down affected stakeholders and also copy furnish municipal mayor Franklin Odsey since most of the RROW problems are within Bontoc municipality. This way, they can assist the Road Right of Way Team in solving the problem.

According to RUA representative, there were affected stakeholders on the road right of way problem who were already compensated upon completion of the requirements. Some are also amenable of the development but they are not satisfied with the government assessment cost of their affected property.

In his message, Provincial Tourism Officer Roger Sacyaten, who represented the Provincial Governor, asked those present during the IMAG meeting to take the task with urgency.

“Let us o finish the project before the end of the present administration because we are not sure if the next administration supports and continue the project,” Sacyaten said. We expect more tourists to come with the completion of the project, he added. (PIA MP)