LETTER TO PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS
August 19, 2009
The Honorable Dr. EMILIO
C. MACIAS II
Provincial Governor
Negros Oriental
Capitol Building, Dumaguete City
The Honorable SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN
Capitol Compound
Dumaguete City
Sirs/Mesdames:
We write to express the concerns
and even the indignation of many over the on-going road constructions
in the province. Although we heard that these constructions are
national projects, the affected local government units have the
legal obligation to see to it that the welfare of their inhabitants
are not unduly compromised.
Thus, we ask the Honorable Governor to immediately
address the following concerns, and for the Honorable Sangguniang
Panlalawigan to summon the concerned contractors and project managers
and inquire into these concerns, in aid of legislation so that
the appropriate ordinance may be passed to govern future road
constructions.
1. We are told that that these government projects
are not to be delayed. Yet why are these road constructions taking
too long to the prejudice of the public? Why is there no work
during rainy days, and at night which is the best time to work?
Why don’t these projects hire shift workers who can work
at night?
2. Why are personnel not assigned to facilitate
traffic at certain times of the day, particularly at night? This
failure raises concerns of public safety and convenience.
3. Why are there no or insufficient early warning
devices at the project sites? We hear reports of accidents due
to the absence of early warning devices or personnel to facilitate
traffic or to warn on-coming vehicles.
4. Why are the contractors allowed to undertake
many road projects at the same time? Are they not overstretching
their resources and equipment? Isn’t this one of the major
causes of delay?
5. Why are portions of road destroyed, abandoned,
and unattended for some time? Shouldn’t we require existing
road projects to be completed first before other portions of the
road are destroyed?
6. Who are the contractors and what are their
respective timeframes? What are their respective plans to mitigate
public inconvenience and ensure public safety?
These and many other questions need to be satisfactorily
answered. There is the general impression that the current road
constructions are being undertaken without regard to public convenience
or safety. The public can no longer tolerate such callousness.
We earnestly ask our public officials to take up the public’s
cause.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,
M. MIKHAIL LEE L. MAXINO
Director, Dr. Jovito R. Salonga
Center For Law and Development
Silliman University
View
Negros Chronicle Reprint of Letter
View
MetroPost Reprint of Letter and Related Editorial