City engineers request more cement, gravel

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said he will look into the unused and new stock of cement, culverts and metal bars at the stockyard in South Road Properties, including the new reported delivery of cements.

The city is to bid out another 1,854 sacks of cement and 1,125 sacks of crushed gravel this month as requested by the city engineering department.
Cebu City Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias last week questioned why 400 sacks of cement were left to harden and hollow blocks left to crumble in the department’s SRP stockyard.

Yesterday, CDN reported that new sacks of cement were delivered in SRP.

Rama said he visited the stockyard to inspect the construction warehouse.

He, however, said he does not know about the new delivery.

“I want to check if that is needed. Who ordered it? How will it be used?”

Rama said he would call the attention of the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to discuss the matter.
City engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez earlier said the construction materials will be used for the improvement of the city’s drainage.
She said they already formed a team to look into and implement the drainage projects.

Rama said he would look into the plan to use this construction materials for the self-help programs of barangays Duljo Fatima, Labangon, Quiot, Punta Prinsesa, Calamba, Guadalupe, Bulacao, Pasil, Pardo, Kalunasan, Buhisan, Capitol Site, Banawa, Inayawan, Kinasang-an, Mambaling, Lahug and Pit-os.
“Why will the barangays buy materials when these are available?”

Meanwhile, Cebu Cityy South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña said he may personally take legal action against persons involved in the “anomalous” transaction for substandard barangay projects with contractor Arante Construction.

Osmeña said the city’s inaction on the substandard projects investigation would only allow those involve in the project implementation to “get away with it.”
“Now nothing is happening because he (Rama) needs the barangay captains in the next election,” said Osmeña.

Osmeña said he wanted those who shortchanged the city in the implementation of the Arante projects “sent to jail.”

He said the result of an investigation by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that he called for would already help identify persons liable in the implementation of the “substandard” Arante projects.

Osmeña requested a DPWH central office inspection team to inspect Arante projects implemented in the south district.