Villar gives ultimatum to DPWH Mandaluyong project contractor

A TAXI cab makes like an amphibian vehicle as it wades out into flooded Maysilo Circle in Mandaluyong City. JOVIC YEE

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The contractor of the drainage project in Mandaluyong City that has caused great inconvenience to residents promised to finish the job by September 30 or face public humiliation, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said.

“Nakausap natin ang contractor doon and ang commitment niya sa atin kung hindi niya matatapos, doon din siya maliligo sa September 30. So dapat tapusin niya ’yon,” Villar said in an interview at the Almendras Gym on Saturday.

Villar, along with Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Sonny Angara, flew to this city to meet with President Rodrigo Duterte, who was spending his rest day here.

Villar, Cayetano, Angara and people from Duterte’s team, including the chief of the Presidential Management Staff, Bong Go, played basketball Saturday night.

For two years now, foul-smelling floodwater from the unfinished project irritated residents of Maysilo Circle, especially on rainy days.

Instead of easing the flooding, the delayed P609-million project has aggravated the situation.

Villar saw faulty planning by the contractor, LR Tiqui Builders Inc., as causing the bigger flooding problem.

“May three phases ‘yung project. ‘Yung last phase ang may pumping station. Natapos ‘yung iba. Napabilis ‘yung flow ng tubig. Ang problema hindi natapos ‘yung pumping station kaya naipon sa isang area at lalong lumala yung baha,” he said.

“Medyo mali ‘yung planning,” Villar said. “Anyway, by September 30 matatapos na lahat pati ‘yung pumping station,” he added./rga – Julliane Love De Jesus