By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA Pangasinan Infocenter

NO MONEY has been paid yet to the contractors of the asphalt overlaying in barangays Mayombo, Bolosan and Lucao in Dagupan City, public works and highways officials said in separate fora over the week.

District Engineer Rodolfo Dion told the road users’ tax media briefing Tuesday at the De Luxe restaurant in Tapuac that his office has not released any money yet for the payment of the some P29-million asphalt overlay of the national road in the three barangays.

Dion was reacting to a question about the propriety of laying asphalt over concrete roads which are said to be still in good condition. With a warranty of at least five years, he said that any defect would have to be corrected by the contractor.

Told that potholes have started appearing already in some portions of the newly asphalted roads, he said he has already informed the contractor about it for corrections.

During the Patrima Kapihan at the Philippine Information Agency office at the Dagupan Astrodome last Thursday, his assistant, engineer RenatoUtanes, repeated Dion’s statement, adding that the project was implemented after due evaluation and approval by the Bureau of Maintenance.

The two officials said that the overlay aimed to prolong the lifespan of the roads which they said were already showing cracks and major scaling. “Pag pinabayaan natin and mga yan, lalong masisira”(If we just leave it that way, these will deteriorate), they said.

The department was strongly criticized for that project because of the onset of the rainy season. What the city needs, according to Mayor Benjamin S. Lim, is more attention and budget for more flood mitigation measures. The roads “repaired” by DPWH, he said, are also flood-prone and the asphalt could easily be damaged.

Regional Director Fidel Ginez told the Kapihan forum that releases of funds are usually made in April and May so that projects are implemented in June which is the start of the rainy season. Observers suggested that any asphalting project should be implemented before or after the rainy season.

Dion said the contractor had admitted to him there was a problem in the asphalt mixture resulting in some early cracks and potholes. “Kung maganda yong mixture parang semento rin yan,” he said.

Each project in the three barangays costs P9.5 million involving contractors Alsem and Oriental.