11 October 2005
More funds to complete Domalandan bridge —RDC
LINGAYEN – The Regional Development Council (RDC) has been asked to support the call of the provincial government of Pangasinan for additional funding for the flood-damaged Domalandan bridge here so that it can be finally completed at least by next year.
Gov. Victor Agbayani, who is also RDC chairman of the Ilocos region, said at the rate funds for Domalandan bridge arrive at P80 million yearly, it may yet take time before the bridge is completed.
The RDC discussed the Domalandan bridge and other infrastructure projects being built by the DPWH in Region 1 during its third quarterly meeting today at the Presidential Hotel here.
Agbayani said based on the report of DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez, only P197 million more is needed before the project is finally completed, at the latest by 2007.
Agbayani, however, urged Ginez to appeal to his agency to complete the financial requirement for the bridge next year in order to finally complete the work, otherwise prices of materials might go up again and take its toll on the project itself.
Agbayani cited a situation in which the contractor, Ciriaco Construction, was idle all the time because it stops work and pulls out its equipment as soon as the funds allocated for each year is exhausted.
A report of Ginez said at least P548 million has been spent by the DPWH for the project which is roughly from 59 to 60 percent complete to date.
The new bridge, being constructed alongside the old structure that was destroyed by the big flood of August 1999, consists of 18 spans, at least 13 spans of which are already up.
The governor said this year the contractor again almost quit the project because the allocation came too late, at a time when prices of materials, such as cement and steel, have skyrocketed.
The Domalandan bridge links the town proper of Lingayen and the whole of central and eastern Pangasinan to western pangasinan. (PNA)
Gov. Victor Agbayani, who is also RDC chairman of the Ilocos region, said at the rate funds for Domalandan bridge arrive at P80 million yearly, it may yet take time before the bridge is completed.
The RDC discussed the Domalandan bridge and other infrastructure projects being built by the DPWH in Region 1 during its third quarterly meeting today at the Presidential Hotel here.
Agbayani said based on the report of DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez, only P197 million more is needed before the project is finally completed, at the latest by 2007.
Agbayani, however, urged Ginez to appeal to his agency to complete the financial requirement for the bridge next year in order to finally complete the work, otherwise prices of materials might go up again and take its toll on the project itself.
Agbayani cited a situation in which the contractor, Ciriaco Construction, was idle all the time because it stops work and pulls out its equipment as soon as the funds allocated for each year is exhausted.
A report of Ginez said at least P548 million has been spent by the DPWH for the project which is roughly from 59 to 60 percent complete to date.
The new bridge, being constructed alongside the old structure that was destroyed by the big flood of August 1999, consists of 18 spans, at least 13 spans of which are already up.
The governor said this year the contractor again almost quit the project because the allocation came too late, at a time when prices of materials, such as cement and steel, have skyrocketed.
The Domalandan bridge links the town proper of Lingayen and the whole of central and eastern Pangasinan to western pangasinan. (PNA)
