Tuesday, August 12, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
By Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre
SAN CARLOS CITY -- Construction work at the Calvo Bridge in the town of Bayambang has resumed after its stoppage for several months.
The contractor was given five months more to complete the project. At present, the Calvo Bridge is 44-percent completed.
Pangasinan third district Representative Rachel Arenas earlier instructed Pangasinan Third Engineering District Assistant Marietta Mendoza to have the project contractor's contract terminated if they cannot expedite the construction work.
Ground work started in August 2007. Mendoza said the original completion date is in one year.
"At first, the project was delayed for one month because the utility cables attached at the old bridge were not immediately removed by the Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative and Digitel," she said, adding that there was also the problem of removing the business stalls near the bridge.
"The deadline has been repeatedly extended and expiry date of the contract is until September, then came Typhoon Cosme," she added.
Construction work again stopped as a still casing, the basic requirement for the construction of a board pile, was washed away by strong rush of water in the river.
The Calvo Bridge is a vital link between Central Pangasinan to the province’s fifth district.
With the piling complaints from the people, Arenas suggested the termination of the project contract.
"I understand why they can't cancel it, as first it is based on an old price. Second, the project will take longer if it will be cancelled. But even then, if we won’t finish it on time and the people will get angry, we will just cancel it. We will just request President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for a new and higher budget based on the new price scheme," the lawmaker remarked.
Meanwhile, Mendoza said they have instructed the contractor to work double time to compensate for the delay.
Rehabilitation of the Calvo Bridge started early last year. When Arenas was elected congresswoman, she was able to have the reconstruction funded for P70 million.
"I've done my part to have the project approved. What I want now is for the bridge to be passable already in the coming months," she reiterated.
Accordingly, P55 million was already released by the Department of Public Works and Highways. Of which, P25 million was already used. An additional P30 million will be released next year.
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