Lack of construction permit blamed for delay in roadwork

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The lack of a construction permit delayed the rehabilitation of a street road here.

Gin Arabia, owner of the G-Arabia Platinum Construction and Development Company (GAPCDC), said that he had no idea that it is mandatory to submit a construction permit to the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) before the works can begin.

GAPCDC was the contractor of San Roque Street rehabilitation project which was supposed to be finished in March 2020 but it was halted because the city government has yet to issue the permit.

Arabia said he was surprised to learn that his papers was held by the CEO on orders of Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.

He blamed the CEO for not informing him about the construction permit before he can proceed with the project.

He also questioned why the CEO obliged his construction firm to submit a certificate of completion as one of the requirements before a construction permit will be issued.

The contractor stressed that it was not stated in Ordinance No. 46-2016 that a certificate of completion is one of the requirements for the road rehab.

“In my own assessment, I was politically pressured by the city government in order not to proceed with the project,” Arabia said.

While he already applied and paid for the permits, Arabia said he was told that it needs to be deliberated by the Sanggunian Panlungsod of Roxas City first before the permit could be issued.

He added that other cities do not require such permit.

The contractor said that he never wanted to delay the construction of the project because his construction firm will also suffer once the work is delayed.

Earlier, the GAPCDC denied talks that it lacked a notice to proceed from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the reason why the work was stopped.

“There was a notice to proceed issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Capiz 1st District Engineering Office to start the project,” he said adding that he will not take the risk of undertaking projects without the proper documents.

Arabia said he received the notice signed by District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura on Feb 7, 2020.

He said there is no truth to the statement of Engineer Julius Abela that the road work lacks a notice to proceed.

On March 9, Dadivas called the DPWH 1st Engineering District to shed light on the complaint of some commuters regarding the ongoing rehabilitation of the road.

Dadivas added that the city government was never informed of the project.

According to the DPWH, they were surprised also with the construction because their office has not issued any clearance or notice to proceed.

But their statements apparently contradicted the documents presented by Arabia.