The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) confiscated the heavy equipment of a contractor undertaking road work at a portion of the South Road Properties (SRP) for failing to comply with requirements.
CCTO operations chief Jonathan Tumulak said the contractor didn’t install early warning devices like reflectorized signs and violated the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. work schedule imposed on civil works at the SRP to prevent congesting traffic.
While the contractor secured a working permit from the city’s Technical Infrastructure Committee, Tumulak said the schedule of civil works should be observed.
The contractor was hired by Pilipinas Water Resource Inc. (PWRI), which is undertaking a project for Filinvest Land Inc.
Tumulak said the contractor dug some portions of the road to bury pipes to supply water from PWRI’s main line to Filinvest’s project at SRP.
He said one lane of SRP was accessible for motorists while the two lanes were occupied by the project.
CCTO executive director Rey Gealon said the contractor should also set up signboards to warn motorists about an ongoing project in the area.
Last Wednesday night, two motorcycle riders figured in an accident in a portion of SRP leading to the Talisay exit due to a hole created by the ongoing road project.
Gealon said only warning notes printed on plywood were put up near the area to warn motorists.
Ruben Villaflor, Pilipinas Water Resources, Inc. general manager, said they met with Gealon and local officials about the incident.
“We are only allowed to work on the excavations from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. but our contractor wanted to fix that part that was uneven,” he said.
Villaflor said the asphalt they place on the road usually shrinks and creates potholes after being run over by big trucks.
He said the contractor placed steel plates on the uneven portions.
Villaflor said the motorcycle riders slid when they passed by the steel plate which turned slippery due to the rain.
He said the contractor will cover the medical needs of the victims.
“I told them (CCTO) that had they allowed our contractor to fix that uneven area, the accident could have been avoided,” Villaflor said.
Since the CCTO confiscated their equipment, Villaflor said the contractor had to borrow equipment from other firms.
He said the road project is supposed to be completed this week.