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Flyover contractor agreed to suspend project — Yaranon

BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 13) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon said on Thursday that the contractor of the flyover project agreed to temporarily stop the implementation of the project at least until the Commission on Audit (COA) has given an audit report on the project as Yaranon earlier requested.

Yaranon said the contractor met with him last Wednesday, updating about his letter to the COA where he asked the auditing of the flyover project to prove if it really complied with all the requirements set under the law.

“I told him it is even for his protection to wait for the commission’s audit. Once he resumes the project and the COA found out that it is irregular, then he might face sanctions for any violations,” Yaranon told the Ugnayang Panlungsod media briefing. He said the contractor was receptive to his suggestion and agreed to a status quo.

In Yaranon’s letter to COA, he pointed out that the P88-million project has no corresponding certificate of availability issued by a competent official as required by the law.

He said it appears that the DPWH circumvented the requirements, thus divided the project into phases.  “But whether the project is done in one or two phases, the requirement of certificate of availability of the total cost of the project is required by law,” Yaranon said.

During the meeting, the mayor also explained the position of the residents and the city government on the project. He said he apprised the contractor on the opposition lodged by the barangay council of Kisad and other adjoining barangays. He also reiterated his stand that the fund intended for the project should instead be spent on further rehabilitating sections of Marcos Highway.

Yaranon has openly opposed the project citing irregularities and its adverse impact to the environment.  He vowed that he will never issue any permit to cut trees to pave the way for the project. The project was suspended after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo brought out the possibility of canceling it and realigning the funds to other projects in the region.

However, the project has been issued resumption order by the DPWH. The flyover project will run from Marcos Highway over the BHG rotunda into Governor Pack Road and will include portions of Kennon Road, Kisad Road and the Burnham Park reservation.

Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane maintained that the project is legal, viable and useful contrary to the mayor’s claims. He said there was no technical malversation as the savings generated from Marcos Highway project will be limited to the scope of work within the limits of Marcos Highway.

Ebdane also said that the project comprised three phases. Aside from the available funds (including the savings from the Rehabilitation of Marcos Highway-foreign fund of P41.77M for the first phase), the amount of P19.709M was earmarked in the 2004 budget; another amount of P25.203 million was included in the 2005 budget for the completion of the project.

He also maintained that the project would be beneficial to the city and nearby localities, as it will address the traffic problem project to occur in the area in the near future.  The secretary also assured that only ornamental trees would be cut and the old trees will be saved. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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