Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong stated that defective projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are a common observation among mayors from various parts of the country.
In an exclusive interview for DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan on Monday, August 25, Magalong questioned the allocated budget for the DPWH projects, highlighting that most of them have design flaws and are easily destroyed during times of calamity. Moreover, he said that some projects did not reach areas vulnerable to landslides.
Magalong also claimed that some lawmakers did not consult the local government units (LGUs) when planning projects in various areas in the country. The mayor said this is not just a problem they encountered, as some mayors have also raised the same concerns to him.
“This is not only happening sa Cordillera o kaya sa Benguet. Marami pang lugar sa Pilipinas na malamang ganito rin. Kasi nagsusumbong din sa akin ‘yung ibang mayors eh. Sabi nila na defective [‘yong projects], this is a common observation among us mayors,” Magalong highlighted.
“Lagi na lang pinapabulaanan ng kung sino-sinong mga politiko. Pero ito talaga nangyayari. Ayaw nila aminin na ito talaga nangyayari kaya sinabihan ko na si presidente na..itong walang konsultasyon sa local government na basta-basta na lang gagawa ‘yung mga mambabatas at ‘yung DPWH ng mga project,” he added.
Although the rock shed project in Tuba, Benguet, served its purpose, Magalong said they encountered problems with its design and foundation.
“Mukha yatang iba yung definition nila ng substandard…mag-isip nga kayo at baguhin niyo naman ‘yung definition niyo. Dahilan pag ‘yan ang definition nila ng substandard, ano na lang ang mangyayari sa mga imprastraktura natin sa buong Pilipinas? Pera ng bayan po ‘yan hindi niyo pera ‘yan,” Magalong expressed.
On Sunday, August 24, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. denounced the “useless” rock shed project in Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. According to reports, the said project had failed to prevent soil collapse and rockfall, leading to the closure of a portion of the major thoroughfare.
“The P260 million that the government spent for this project had no effect whatsoever as to protect this slope. Parang walang ginawa. Pareho lang kung wala silang tinayo, kung wala silang linagay na wall, wala silang linagay na rip rap,” Marcos said.
