DPWH Dist Engr refutes charges on bridge project in Maasin

By Marcelo M. Pedalino

Thursday 21st of June 2012

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 21 (PIA) -- District Engineer Carlos Veloso of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte Engineering District (SLED) responded point-by-point to certain allegations raised on a bridge project located at the city center here.

In a letter addressed to the editor of a local weekly dated June 12, Veloso disputed the allegation published in the paper last month that the bridge carriageway of the new Tuburan bridge along the national road at Tomas Oppus street was just the same as the old bridge.

Veloso showed a cross-section illustration of the said bridge in his letter, a copy of which was furnished to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and radio station dyDM, to say that the old and new bridges were not the same in dimension.

“As indicated in the cross-sectional drawing, the carriageway of the old and new bridge has a difference of 1.00 meter. The new bridge being wider in width by 1 meter could accommodate more traffic. Moreover, the new bridge has a safety sidewalk of 0.80 meter, making it safe to pass by and provide channelization of pedestrians and motorists thereby reducing bottlenecks,” De Veloso explained.

Veloso was responding to an observation of a "concerned Maasinhon" published in the May 12-18, 2012 issue of Southern Leyte Times. "The new bridge near the port area seems to be the same size as the old demolished bridge," said one of the items in the Letters to the Editor section. "If indeed the new bridge will come out the same size as the old bridge, this project will start looking like it’s for 'private purpose' instead of 'public purpose'," the letter further said.

In the succeeding issue, May 19-25, a certain Samuel Palaganas from Sogod and New York City also asked in the letters to the Editor section if it was true that the "Tuburan bridge, which was being renovated, would actually be the same width as the old bridge."

In his reply to these letters, Veloso said the government was judicious in prioritizing funding for bridge replacements, saying these projects needed to hurdle a rate set by the national government in relation to its return of investment, benefit-cost ratio, and present net value, the project being a capital outlay.

He also said that project releases were not due to “private purpose” as alleged but were based on a computer application called Bridge Management System.

“This computer system will analyze volume of traffic data, traffic accident data, as built design data and other structural analysis which prioritized funds for bridges along the national roads,” he added.

As to the questions why the old bridge was replaced, Veloso clarified that “structurally, the old bridge is beyond its design life.”

He pointed out that the newly completed bridge, which has met its target implementation date of June 30 well in advance, is now a standard infrastructure for all primary arterial and national roads from Aparri to Jolo. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)