I am not an engineer although my eldest son and two children-in-law are. But even as a layman who may not be able to accurately estimate project costs, I am sure there is something wrong with the way work programs in the on-going Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road are being prepared.
As it is, contractors could get very rich long before the project is completed but the project itself is in grave danger of not being completed. The P250 million allocated by President Arroyo on February 2, 2006 may all be eaten up without the road being passable.
How could it be completed or even just made passable when a road opening work program covering about a kilometer is costing P20 million or more? And that is mere road opening.
In 1991 when the coastal road was first started by the Congressman Eduardo Pilapil. I was informed by engineers who worked at the site that the former solon secured only P40 million. Yet, the Pili Bridge was completed and half of the Bulalacao Bridge was also completed and the entire route itself was close to becoming passable up to barangay Hanopol in Caramoan.
Of course, 1991 prices were much lower but even if costs have jacked up four times, with much of the road route having been bulldozed and even partially graveled, P250 million from every well-meaning citizen’s knowledge should be sufficient to at least make the road passable.
I have high regard for DPWH Region V officials, many of them being friends of mine including regional director Orlando Roces and Engr. Godofredo Beltran, chief of the Construction division. But I must ask that programs must be reviewed very, very thoroughly because the image of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is at stake in this crucial undertaking.
The bishops themselves have their qualms about the project. First, it is now one year after the President announced that she was allocating P250 million for the coastal road but nothing substantial has been done. In allocating the huge outlay, President Arroyo was heeding the clamor of the people not only in the Caramoan Peninsula but also the nearby island province of Catanduanes who are hoping they would be linked up by a roll-on-roll off system in just 30 minutes to Caramoan once the coastal road is finished. That dream could be shattered if this dubious programming trend is not corrected.
DPWH says bidding for P150 million of the P250 million has been done but very little activity is visible. In fact, Bishop Jose Rojas who frequently visits Caramoan has written the President to say that there is really nothing appreciable yet at the project site. If this agonizingly slow process continues President Arroyo may already be out of office with the project still in the dark.
One more mysterious if not appalling thing that I am sure could affect the implementation of the project is the fact that all four segments supposed to be under construction now from Bitaogan to Guijalo were awarded to only one contractor who is unable to simultaneously implement each segment because of lack of equipment, despite the huge amount involved. P150 million of the P250 million may have gone entirely to this contractor although contractors who could more speedily carry out the urgent construction work abound here in Camarines Sur and Bicol.
I am deeply saddened by this turn of events, having as many people know, worked hard at the start as president of the CRANE to push this project which actually had been shelved and forgotten.
I knew that both Governor L-Ray Villafuerte and Congressman Noli Fuentebella were negotiating separately for foreign assistance for the existing Caramoan Peninsula Road that traverses the mountains and which is longer by 25 kilometers compared to the coastal road. But their original plans did not include the coastal road. That was why the first persons I approached to help our organization was Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte, Bishop Manolo A. delos Santos and Undersecretary Tomasito Monson, Presidential Assistant for Bicol Affairs.
Of course, Governor Villafuerte also endorsed our petition along with Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles, Jr., Congressman Felix Alfelor, Jr., all elective officials and more than 500 community leaders of Caramoan and the Camrines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed by William Concepcion.
Much therefore, are at stake in this undertaking because many are involved and the future of the entire Caramoan Peninsula as well as Catanduanes depend to a large extent on the efficient implementation of this project.
May God forbid monkey business in this project, the legacy of President Arroyo to Caramoan Peninsula!
