NegOr.'s delayed road building

Let me re-print this letter asking our government officials to explain the delayed road construction projects, which is affecting not only the economy but the daily affairs of ordinary Negrenses.

August 19, 2009

The Honorable Dr. Emilio C. Macias II
Provincial Governor
Negros Oriental
Capitol Building, Dumaguete City

The Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Capitol Compound
Dumaguete City

Sirs/Mesdames:

We write to express the concerns and even the indignation of many over the on-going road constructions in the province. Although we heard that these constructions are national projects, the affected local government units have the legal obligation to see to it that the welfare of their inhabitants are not unduly compromised. Thus, we ask the Honorable Governor to immediately address the following concerns, and for the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan to summon the concerned contractors and project managers and inquire into these concerns, in aid of legislation so that the appropriate ordinance may be passed to govern future road constructions.

1. We are told that that these government projects are not to be delayed. Yet why are these road constructions taking too long to the prejudice of the public? Why is there no work during rainy days, and at night which is the best time to work? Why don’t these projects hire shift workers who can work at night?

2. Why are personnel not assigned to facilitate traffic at certain times of the day, particularly at night? This failure raises concerns of public safety and convenience.

3. Why are there no or insufficient early warning devices at the project sites? We hear reports of accidents due to the absence of early warning devices or personnel to facilitate traffic or to warn on-coming vehicles.

4. Why are the contractors allowed to undertake many road projects at the same time? Are they not overstretching their resources and equipment? Isn’t this one of the major causes of delay?

5. Why are portions of road destroyed, abandoned, and unattended for some time? Shouldn’t we require existing road projects to be completed first before other portions of the road are destroyed?

6. Who are the contractors and what are their respective time-frames? What are their respective plans to mitigate public inconvenience and ensure public safety?

These and many other questions need to be satisfactorily answered. There is the general impression that the current road constructions are being undertaken without regard to public convenience or safety. The public can no longer tolerate such callousness. We earnestly ask our public officials to take up the public’s cause.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,


M. Mikhail Lee L. Maxino
Director, Dr. Jovito R. Salonga
Center For Law and Development
Silliman University