| Home | About Us | News | Activities | Resources | Photos | Clippings | Video | Salonga Profile | Links |
Walking the extra mile: The Salonga Center for Law and Development based at Silliman University raised relevant questions to the governor why despite the welcome-P480-million road development projects in this second district national highway, the public is made to suffer such inconveniences which otherwise could be avoided, if managed properly. But in his reply to the Salonga Law Center thru director Atty. Mikhail Maxino, (published elsewhere in this issue) the good governor did not seem to get the point of the letter which obviously reflected the general sentiment of the riding public. Even if the governor conferred with the DPWH district engineer and the second district solon George Arnaiz who haggled for these projects –thanks to him — there simply are JUST MINOR efforts lacking from the implementers (which is the executive department) in making lighter the public’s ordeal in passing through those kilometers of massive cementing which has virtually doubled travel time in the second district. This means more fuel and money consumed by motorists who are but temporarily subjected to major inconveniences while on the road. What are these MINOR THINGS which, if provided, the riding public will greatly assuage their present inconvenience: l – enough warning lights and reflectors at project sight for road safety –instead of primitive bonfires borne by human casuals. These budgets are already paid for, together with the project costs; 2- by publishing the names of contractors giving their budgets and time frames, the public can help monitor delays; 3- just because mobilization funds have been released, some contractors destroy a fairly good road, and leave it at that until the next fund releases to the great inconvenience of the public; 4- why not work more hours at NIGHT AND NOT BY DAY (say two shifts between 7pm to 5am at five hours per shift) just to give the public more convenience. By doing so, work will be faster and more focused;
5- provide traffic aides on both ends of road construction sites,
so that vehicles will not meet at the same time at the middle
of the narrow construction pathways; THESE ARE DOABLES, if only
public convenience and well being are paramount in the minds of
government implementers, especially the governor who is highest
local chief executive of Negros Oriental. But sadly, in his reply
to the Salonga Law Center he said “these are nationally
funded projects and the undersigned (governor) was not involved
nor notified in the implementation of these projects, hence I
have no control over the same.” Finally, if he STILL wants to be governor at 76, then he better prove and show that he can still do these little and doable things –— that is, if he elects to walk the extra mile for public service,—-this way, the electorate will be very happy and would even re-consider putting him back for three more years as capitol’s chief servant.
|
(035) 422-6002