‘Replace substandard infrastructure materials’

The Cebu city government will ask the supplier of thousands of hollow blocks and culverts stockpiled at the South Road Properties (SRP) to replace the materials after the City Council found out in an inquiry that these are substandard.

“They are weak based on random testing,” Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias quoted representatives of Department of Engineering and Public Works sent to yesterday’s inquiry by department head Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez.

The hollow blocks and culverts supplied by Robin Hardware do not have the required specific strength of 500 per square inch, said Cabarrubias, chairman of the council’s infrastructure committee.

He said the council will ask the hardware to replace the materials, which are covered by a warranty.

The City Council is looking at transacting with another supplier so that they can demand quality construction materials.

Robin Hardware will deliver thousands more hollow blocks at the SRP later this month, he said.

The council also found out that 800 bags of cement at the SRP hardened due to improper handling.

The hardened cement will be used as footpaths in barangay self-help projects, he said.

Cabarrubias said he will ask the DEPW to plan how to use the culverts.