ANGELES CITY—The business community along the Friendship Road here as well as residents of Barangay Anunas are up in arms against the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as the contractor of the road project in the area.
Ruperto Cruz, chairman of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM), said on Thursday that Filipino businessmen as well as Korean businessmen and residents in the area are now contemplating on filing a class suit against the DPWH and RZ Roncal Construction Corp. (RZRCC) for allegedly delaying the completion of the Friendship-Anunas Road.
Cruz said the businessmen are suffering losses in their businesses owing to the ongoing road construction that is “taking too long.”
Residents of upscale subdivisions on Friendship Road including Friendship Plaza Subdivision, Sunset Estates, Sunset Valley and Timog Park are also complaining of the slow pace of the road construction.
Cruz said the contractor (RZRCC) has promised to finish the road construction in front of the Grand Palazzo Royal in two weeks but two months have passed and the road is still unfinished.
“They have the funds but why is it delayed?” Cruz asked.
“Pinitna ne, enaneman gagagwan two months na. Ninu mo ing maquinabang, ing contratista mu [He divided it but did not work on it for two months now. Who is benefiting from this except the contractor],” Cruz said.
Cruz also decried the lack of warning signs in the construction area adding that numerous accidents have happened owing to the lack of signs.
He also said the road is flooded during heavy rains and nothing is done to warn motorists of the dangers and as a result not a few vehicles have fallen into deep excavations and embankments.
The construction should be nonstop to finish it in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (Apec) summit in January but it seems that the construction is being intentionally delayed by the contractor, Cruz added.
Roncal construction should consider working during the night to expedite the construction and serve to warn motorists passing in the area, he said. Obviously, there will be fewer disturbances if the road construction is done at night time like what they do in the US and other countries, he added.
Meanwhile, Cruz also cited the Pandan Road construction which is the bane of businessmen in the area, motorists and residents who are greatly affected by the work.
Cruz also noted that the road widening in the Balibago District, the city’s business district, has remained unfinished and some sections like the portion in front of Didi’s Restaurant is an accident waiting to happen because of the deep embankment where only a yellow plastic ribbon was placed as a warning sign.
There seems to be a pattern of delay, Cruz said. The contractor seems to be oblivious to public safety, he added. “Is there corruption here?” he asked.