Davao City creates task force to study coordinated implementation of projectsDAVAO CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- The city government here has created a task force that would study the coordinated implementation of infrastructure projects by all government agencies to prevent the disruption of traffic, business operations, and other activities in the city.
This developed as the city faces a worsening traffic situation, aggravated by road diggings and excavations by different agencies and service providers.
City Planning chief Ivan Cortez however said other factors contribute to the problem, such as poor mass transport system, noting that the city relies mainly on public utility vehicles and taxicabs for transportation while the easy access to owning vehicles and the bulk of projects that are implemented simultaneously, contribute to traffic congestion.
Cortez also cited migration as another contributing factor given the influx of people coming and relocating in the city.
The task force, he said, is going to ask government agencies, such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to synchronize their work, so that the digging of newly built roads would be avoided and government resources would not go to waste.
"This has been the practice (build and destroy) that we have reached the point of wanting to seek intervention from higher authorities to address this," he said.
Cortez also said the city will ask DPWH to include in its projects space for future underground cabling, aimed at eliminating overhead wires and telephone and internet cables. The city government has already completed underground cabling in areas within City Hall.
"Perhaps they could provide spaces for water pipe connections, for telcos and also for gas so these basic lines are ready for future projects," he said.
Talks are ongoing with concerned government agencies, the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and the City Engineer’s Office to address the gap in terms of synchronizing their project implementation.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has instructed them to come up with long-term plans on what they want to happen to the city as short- and medium-term plans address the current situation, Cortez said.
He said Mayor Sara has also directed them to look into the possibility of imposing building height requirements, and this will be handled by the City Planning Office, City Legal Office and the City Engineer’s Office who will later come up with an ordinance that would address these concerns.
“Right now, only the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regulates the height limitation for building constructions that may affect the flight path of an aircraft,†Cortez said, adding that there is also a plan to consult structural engineers as they know the quality of the city’s soil.
This is also aimed at determining the quality of soil whether it can stand the weight of tall buildings given the common comments of construction companies that it is more costly to build a skyscraper in Davao City than in Manila because the soft soil here would require a lot of board piling.
Citing an example, he said the expansion of the bridge along the diversion road took a long time to build because the original specifications of 12 to 14 board piling rose to 25 and they were not able to reach the level where the base is stable.
The contractor has asked for work suspension because their project cost estimates have already ballooned beyond their budget.
"They cannot put the vertical structure when the base is not stable," he said.
Cortez said there are other areas that the task force needs to study for better project planning. (PNA)
CVL/LCM/DIGNA D. BANZON
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