Yamsuan calls for passage of bill requiring gov’t projects to work 24/7

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan. —Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has called on his colleagues to pass a bill that would require construction projects of the government to be on round-the-clock operation, to minimize the impact to motorists and to avoid losing business opportunities.

Yamsuan said this on Tuesday, noting that House Bill (HB) No. 9666 filed by Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo and other lawmakers would address the traffic woes experienced due to infrastructure projects near or along major thoroughfares.

The lawmaker said he has signified to be a co-author of HB No. 9666.

READ: SB lanes of Edsa-Kamuning flyover to be off limits to private vehicles

“In other countries, it is expected that the repair and construction of roads and bridges are done 24/7. Like what I have always said, we need to change our mindset and our old habits,” he said.

“I agree with my friend and fellow lawmaker [Rep.] Erwin Tulfo and other lawmakers who authored HB No. 9666, which proposes that continuous work for 24-hours, seven days in a week should be a requirement in implementing public infrastructure projects,” he added.

Minimum of three shifts in a day

If HB No. 9666 is passed and signed into law, government infrastructure projects will be required to do round-the-clock operations.  Implementing agencies however are tasked to ensure that suitable working schedules for employees or workers would be adopted, with a minimum of three shifts in a day.

Companies who comply with the schedule may be given incentives—while penalties may be given in certain situations where the practice is not observed.

“To motivate compliance and ensure the efficiency of round-the-clock operations, contractors and workers engaged in government infrastructure projects under this Act may be eligible for incentives. The criteria and guidelines for the grant of incentives shall be established by the implementing agency,” the bill read.

“Failure to adhere to the provisions of this Act shall result in penalties for the implementing agency, including possible budgetary reductions for future projects. Contractors found to be negligent in implementing round-the-clock operations may face sanctions, including suspension from participating in government projects,” it added.

Yamsuan said the measure is important because construction projects have been a source of heavy traffic especially in highly-urbanized areas, which eventually leads to losing possible income and business opportunities.

Stalled infrastructure projects

“One of the main causes of heavy traffic congestion especially in highly urbanized areas are stalled infrastructure projects. If we ensure that work is done round the clock, then this will greatly minimize the time wasted and productivity lost by our workers,” he said.

READ: Manila’s traffic jams cost $57 million a day

Motorists have recently complained about the closure of the Kamuning Flyover along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) in Quezon City, which forces all private vehicles moving along the southbound lane to go through the narrow service road which links to Timog Avenue, East Avenue, and the Kamias Road interchange.

The construction has caused heavy traffic in the area.

Different studies in the past have given staggering estimates with regards to how much income is lost due to Metro Manila traffic.  In 2014, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said that Metro Manila’s traffic jams are costing the Philippine economy P2.4 billion pesos per day in potential income—which can eventually balloon to P6 billion a day by 2030.

In 2018, JICA updated the figures—noting that money lost due to traffic congestion is now worth P3.5 billion per day.