City council wants probe on DPWH office over projects sans warning devices

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Roxas City called on the Office of the President and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan to investigate the DPWH 1st District Engineering of Capiz for possible negligence.

The call was coursed through a resolution sponsored by City Councilor Federico  “Pip” Acepcion and unanimously approved by all members.

The reason for the call is the purported failure of the district to implement security measures in road construction and civil works which led to several accidents and deaths in Roxas City and in some municipalities in the province of Capiz.

Acepcion noted that from January to May this year, 24 road accidents occurred in the city because roads undergoing rehabilitation lacked early warning devices.

The victims blamed the contractors and the DPWH-1st Capiz District Engineering for failing to place warning signs and devices.

On the other hand, League of the Municipalities (LMP) Capiz President and Maayon Mayor Raymond “Mon-Mon” Malapajo will also call for a meeting with the contractors of road rehabilitation projects with no early warning devices.

This, as a 19-year-old student died after the motorcycle he was driving crashed last May 13 in Barangay Poblacion Tabuc, Maayon, Capiz.

Jerecho De Justo of said town died while under treatment in a private hospital here.

De Justo’s family blamed the DPWH for failing to put up an early warning device in the road project.

Maribel de Justo, the mother of the 1st year criminology student, said there are no early warning devices on the national highway where the rehab project was ongoing.

She said that based on the CCTV footage, her son was slowly driving his motorcycle towards their house when he met the incident.

The family is seeking help and justice for the victim’s death.

The DPWH 1st District Engineering has yet to comment on the issue against them.