DPWH man sued for ‘unauthorized reblocking’

MANILA, Philippines—Yes, they can be sued for “tearing up the road” just like that.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) filed charges against a district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over an “unauthorized reblocking” project on a portion of C5 Road in Pasig City on Wednesday morning, after it caused a traffic jam that stretched all the way to Quezon City.

When questioned, all that Jagonbuild Construction Corp.—the contractor hired by the DPWH—could show the MMDA was a work permit for the project that expired a year ago.

Speaking to reporters, MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said he had filed charges of grave misconduct, abuse of authority and gross ignorance of the law against District Engineer Roberto Nicolas of the DPWH National Capital Region office in the Office of the Ombudsman at 2 p.m. Wednesday. He did not say whether the contractor was included in the suit.

“[The contractor’s] permit [expired a year ago.] And you really can’t do reblocking work [in the middle of the week] and during rush hour,” Tolentino said.

“They just tore up the road,” he said, adding that the DPWH did not coordinate with his agency about the project.

He said he had told Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson about the case filed against Nicolas, and that the DPWH chief told him to go ahead.

Though often announced days in advance, road reblocking projects have long been enraging motorists dealing with the daily traffic gridlock in Metro Manila.

Infrawatch, a watchdog group that monitors public works spending, has repeatedly criticized the DPWH for doing reblocking works on roads that still appear to be fine and not in need of any repairs, the job allegedly given to favored contractors.

According to Tolentino, the reblocking project on the northbound section of the C5 Bagong Ilog flyover, which started shortly before dawn Wednesday, left just one of the two lanes open, resulting in heavy traffic in Pasig City, particularly in Pineda, Oranbo, and Ortigas; in the Market! Market! area and all the way to Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.

Shortly after ordering the contractor to stop working, MMDA personnel confiscated JagonBuild’s materials and equipment.

As for the holes that the contractor left on the road, Tolentino said they were set to be covered up on Wednesday afternoon.