CITY MAYOR Benjamin S. Lim took to task the top local officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and aides of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. over their non-coordination of projects like the current asphalt overlay project in three sections of national roads located in the city.

For the first time in his recent “cold war” with De Venecia, he directly blamed unnamed local lieutenants of the House Speaker for putting pressure on DPWH engineers for the prosecution of projects that, according to him, were impractical and a waste of money.

Lim warned that he might just move to stop the ongoing work

District Engineer Rodolfo Dion of the second Pangasinan engineering district however said that he wrote a letter to Mayor Benjamin S. Lim about the asphalt overlay in barangays Bolosan, Tapauac and Mayombo upon receipt of an allotment advice for the project worth some P30 million.

He said a copy of the letter received by the mayor’s office was available in his office as evidence that he indeed had informed the mayor about the project.

Dion added that he also requested the city engineer’s office to assign some personnel to assist in the supervision of the asphalt paving which began in Bolosan last week.

Lim, in a letter to DPWH, questioned the project pointing out that the city needs more flood mitigation measures, adding that the three areas—Bolosan, Tapuac and Mayombo– are flood prone. He also maintained that the agency should consult the city about proposed projects.

The mayor was quoted as saying that DPWH officials – the regional director and the district engineer concerned – are helpless in dealing with the whims of people close to de Venecia, Jr.

“Walang kuwenta yang regional at district directors, di sila makapalag sa mga bata ni Speaker” (The (DPWH) regional and district directors are worthless; they can’t put up to the aides of the (House) Speaker), he said, pointing out that such people are cornering projects in the fourth district to include Dagupan.

Lim, it will be recalled, had a falling out with De Venecia late last year over differences in the implementation of big projects for Dagupan initiated by the latter particularly the new Bonuan-Lucao diversion road and the proposed fish processing plant.

Dion, in a radio interview, defended the asphalt overlay saying it was a measure to prolong the lifespan of the concrete roads. He noted that these road sections already showed some cracks.

Asked why the project costs that much compared with overlay projects by the provincial government, Dion said that they are going to pave not only the main road but also the shoulders and also paint the center line and the edge. (DOS)