Radaza holds off on road concreting project

WORK on the road concreting project in the busy Maximo Patalinhug Avenue, Lapu-Lapu City was suspended after Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza refused to allow its completion.

Radaza said while the Maximo Patalinjug Avenue is not fully concreted, its asphalted part can still be used by motorists.

She said if the road concreting project resumes now, it will worsen traffic in the city.

The mayor said the Feb. 25 start of minor repairs and asphalting of the old Mandaue-Mactan bridge will worsen traffic congestion especially for motorists heading to Lapu-Lapu City.

Instead, Radaza asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to divert the concreting project in some areas of the the national road within the city such as in barangays Maribago, Agus, Marigondon and Suba-basbas.

“Not all city roads are being worked on. Due to budget constraints, we prioritize those roads that really need immediate attention,” the mayor said.

Radaza said she had yet to receive feedback from DPWH on her request but was hopeful the agency would consider it.

“No one is opposed to developments in our city but there are other roads that needs more attention, it must have been prioritized,” she said.

Engr. Reynault Ricardo of the DPWH said they’re still waiting for word from their national office on Radaza’s request.

“We only implement what has been approved by our central office basing on the reports we submit to them,” he said.

Engr. Ricardo went to Mayor Radaza’s office last week to inform her that the second phase of the Maximo Patalinjug Avenue road concreting project will resume since its budget was already approved.

But Radaza turned it down and said she’s waiting on the DPWH response to her request. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza