SUPERVISADAS PDJ
6 ASUNTOS AMBIENTALES – GESTION AMBIENTAL
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As maybe noted, the selection criteria were varied with some projects requiring stringent selection criteria than others.
The audit, however, disclosed that while sets of criteria were established to ensure selection of the bridge most in need of replacement, repair or immediate construction, the criteria were not strictly observed. Bridging materials were issued to the proponent without assessing the readiness of the project sites and the proponents. Thus, some bridging materials remained uninstalled and unprotected at project sites.
OBSERVATIONS
1. The readiness of the project sites and the implementing agencies were not assessed prior to the issuance of bridging materials. Thus, bridging materials delivered to the project proponents for quite a time remained uninstalled due to lack of funds and/or right-of-way problems.
Under the loan agreement for the President’s Bridge Program, the super structure components, known as the bridging materials to be delivered by the foreign supplier will be charged against the loan proceeds. As a counterpart, the Philippine Government shall provide funds for the following:
• Acquisition and payment of road right-of-way, access road and the like on the proposed bridge site, if applicable;
• Relocation of affected utilities and demolition of existing structure, i.e., existing old bridge, electric post, water lines, drainage, etc.;
• Construction of substructure including wing wall and ballasts;
• Construction of 5m of slab and concrete barriers with traffic paint and sign post in both approaches; and
• Installation of the bridge superstructure.
To ensure that the required counterpart fund will not be a problem, DPWH and DILG included in the selection criteria of the bridges to be prioritized the following:
• Financial capability of the LGUs to provide counterpart funds
• Absence of right-of-way problem and structures for demolition.
Evaluation of records, however, revealed that while compliance to these criteria are crucial and pre-requisite to the installation of superstructures, the same were not being assessed prior to the release of bridging materials. It was observed that bridging materials were released to the project proponents without even evaluating if the project sites were already ready or counterpart funds to address these concerns were already available.
As a result, construction of a number of bridges were not started or completed though bridging materials were already released to the concerned LGUs due to, among others, lack of counterpart funds and right of way problem. Meantime, as observed during inspection of selected sites, the bridging materials were left at project sites unprotected as illustrated below:
Name of Bridge/Location
Bridge length (l.m.)
Date of release of
BMs Remarks
Tulay ng Pangulo sa Barangay
Bacayao Bridge Pangasinan 60.96 08-17-02
Bridging materials issued in 2002 remained uninstalled due to lack of funds. These were found by the team stocked in a private warehouse in Dagupan City in July 2007. The items inventoried by the team could no longer build a bridge.
Name of Bridge/Location Davao del Norte
- No
information available
Abutment A (Installed H-piles)
Abutment B (Installed H-piles and rebars for the footings)
Per team’s inspection on October 22, 2007, the bridge was found unfinished and already abandoned. Found at site were installed materials for abutments A and B. The bridging materials issued by the PBPO were no longer found at site. The team was informed by the PBPO that other bridging materials intended for this project were utilized for the construction of the detour bridge to be used while the construction of Tuganay Bridge in Carmen, Davao del Norte is ongoing. As reflected in the May 2002 Validation Report prepared by Region XI Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC), the project has a right-of-way (ROW) problem. The Municipality of B.E. Dujali is reportedly yet to negotiate with the owners of a banana plantation for a portion of land to link the road to the bridge.
Phase II – Austrian Assisted Sabangan, Sinait
Ilocos Sur
20 07-15-05
This project is reported as still for implementation. It was also reported that about P500,000 were spent in hauling materials from Regional Bridge Depot I to project site and some materials are still to be hauled from Visayas and Mindanao Depots.
Interview with the provincial government officials disclosed that the project could not be implemented due to lack of funds.
Large bridging materials were already covered with grass while some small bridge parts were already embedded on the ground.
Furthermore, corrosion on gusset plates, nuts and bolts as well as on the steel trusses were noted during the team’s inspection in July 2007.
Name of Bridge/Location
The project is reported as still for implementation. It was also reported that about P500,000 were spent in hauling materials from Regional Bridge Depot I to project site and some materials are still to be hauled from Visayas and Mindanao Depots.
Interview with the provincial government officials disclosed that the project could not be implemented due to lack of funds.
Corrosion was already noticeable on some bridging parts during team’s inspection in July 2007.
Biloca-Dariwdiw, Batac,
Ilocos Sur 35 04-20-05
As reported, the proponent is still looking for available funds.
Bridging materials were already covered with grasses with corrosion noted on gusset plates and main bearings.
Arimit Bridge, Adams, Ilocos Norte
20 06-01-05
Masi/Baset Bridge, Adams, Ilocos Norte
100 06-09-05
As reflected in the Status Report as of September 2007, the bridging materials are stored in the Provincial Motorpool and awaiting funds from the provincial government.
Besong Bridge, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya
25 05-05-05 As reflected in the Status Report as of September 2007, the engineering works is yet to be started and the funds are still being requested from the provincial government.
Mangandingay-Sto.
Domingo Bridge,
20 12-14-04 Not yet implemented due to insufficient fund per reply to the
Name of Bridge/Location
Campamento-Guinagat 20 04-13-05
team’s confirmation by the concerned LGU.
Sto. Rosario Br., Minalin, Pampanga
20 02-08-05 As reflected in the Status Report as of September 2007, the project was not yet started and still awaiting for the release of provincial counterpart funds.
San Antonio-Agos Bridge, Iriga City, Albay
60 08-18-05 Awaiting release of SARO from the CDF.
Budlaan Bridge, Cebu City 20 10-04-05 Requesting funds from the CDF of a Senator.
San Jose Bridge, Palo, Leyte
60 06-23-05 Not yet implemented, awaiting allocation of counterpart funds from the LGU.
Sadpodon Bridge, Carmen, Davao del Norte
30 01-06-06 Not yet implemented, awaiting counterpart funds from the LGU.
Kinabjangan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte
40 10-20-05
Dona Telesfora Bridge, Tubay, Agusan del Norte
45 10-12-05
Not yet implemented, awaiting counterpart funds.
Ambahan-Cabayawa Bridge, Tubay, Agusan del Norte
25 10-20-05 Still sourcing funds for implementation.
Banban Bridge, Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte
45 12-03-05
Taytay Bridge, Malimono, Surigao del Norte
25 11-29-05
Still for inclusion in the LGU’s supplemental budget.
Anahao-Daan-Bag-O Bridge, Surigao del Sur
50 11-08-05 LGU has no counterpart funds yet to implement the project.
Cabangahan Bridge, Iligan City
80 Still requesting funds from the
provincial government for substructure.
Pastor Kimpo Bridge, Cotabato City
25 11-02-05 Still requesting counterpart funds from the LGU. The bridging materials are stored at the City Eng’g.
Office.
Culat Bridge, Casiguran, Aurora
60 5-16-05 Construction done by phase depending on the availability of funds from the provincial government.
Management’s Comments Team’s Rejoinder
Response provided by DILG
The project site had been identified and validated before each consignment order. Under AAPBPII, this situation occurred after the loan closing date on June 30, 2004 where the LGUs were advised to withdraw their bridging materials from the
Apparently, the representation of the LGUs that funds are available was not at all verified and validated.
Ironically, while certificate of availability of funds and
Management’s Comments Team’s Rejoinder depots with the submission of
Certificate of Availability of Funds and commitment to implement the project. The depots are supposed to be turned-over to the host LGUs and also to transfer the responsibility of securing the materials to the recipient LGUs.
While it is true that some bridging materials are not properly stocked, it is evident in all of the depots, that materials are placed high above the ground with the use of sleepers and the nuts and bolts were placed in crates in a covered storage area to avoid corrosion.
Prior to the release of materials, LGUs are advise to properly stocked the bridging materials.
commitment to implement the project were claimed to have been required prior to withdrawal of the bridging materials by the proponent LGUs, lack of funds is the very reason for failure of the LGUs to implement the project.
The unprotected bridging materials noted in the report were those left behind at the project sites.
As evident on conditions presented in the report, the LGUs failed to properly stock bridging materials as these were already covered with grass with small items embedded on the ground. However, proper storage would not be an issue had availability of LGU’s counterpart fund to construct the bridge been ensured.
2. A number of bridges were constructed outside the projects’ coverage area. Of these bridges, ten (10) were constructed in Metro Manila of which three (3) remained closed to traffic due to right-of-way problems. Moreover, the benefits from three (3) other bridges are yet to be maximized.
Records disclosed that some bridge projects were intended to address the needs of specific areas only. Considering that one of its objectives is to mainstream remote communities, the bridge projects, particularly the President’s Bridge Program, focused on rural areas.
Validation, however, revealed that a number of bridges were constructed outside the bridge projects’ coverage area with some constructed in places considered to be not badly in need and appropriate under the circumstances as illustrated in the following cases:
Selection
criteria Remarks
Tulay ng Pangulo sa Barangay The nationwide
implementation of the barangay bridges covers
• Considerable
The audit disclosed that while NCR was specifically excluded from the coverage of this project, nine (9) bridge projects were nonetheless constructed within this area. Moreover, six (6) of these projects apparently did not also comply with two other criteria requiring considerable socio-economic effects and construction of road links. Three (3) of these bridges are not yet open to traffic despite completion as early as December 2004 while the benefits for other three (3) are yet to be maximized as these are being used only for a limited time during the day.
In reply to the team’s query, PBPO claimed that bridges located within NCR were included upon the special instruction of the President and the strong representations of the concerned LGUs. It was further claimed that prior to their inclusion, the criteria for eligibility were applied.
Inspection conducted by the team on July 18 to19, 2007 and September 6, 2007 revealed the condition of the following six (6) completed bridges.
Congressional I & II Bridges
The two (2) double lane bridges were completed in February 2006 but remained closed to traffic as the bridge approaches and road links were not yet started. The works were stopped due to right-of-way problems. Informal settlers are still found occupying the area and the bridges are being used as parking area.
Culiat Bridge
The bridge was completed in December 2004. The approach/access road after the bridge going to Tacloban St. is still occupied by informal settlers. In view of the road-right-of-way (RROW) problem, the bridge is not fully utilized. The funds for the RROW and relocation of
Austin Bridge- Fairview, Quezon City The bridge was completed on November 15, 2006. The bridge is leading to a road going to West Fairview E/S and NICA Office with few residential houses. The bridge is often used by tricycles in ferrying students/teachers to the school about a hundred meters after
Selection
criteria Remarks
affected squatters are yet to be provided by the DPWH.
the bridge.
Santibanez Bridge- Paco, Metro Manila.
The bridge is for the exclusive use of the Procurement Service’s clients and customers with a steel gate being closed after office hours.
Dunhill Bridge–East Fairview, Q.C.
The bridge links the subdivision (Barangay East Fairview) to La Mesa Dam Eco Park serving people going to the park. A steel gate was installed before the bridge and a security guard outpost was placed at the middle of the bridge. Interview with the guard on duty revealed that the gate at the bridge approach is closed after 6:00 pm and opens at 6:00 am as a security measure.
Tulay ng Pangulo sa SZOPAD EO No. 371
identifying the provinces and cities covered under SZOPAD.
Based on the accomplishment report for Tulay ng Pangulo sa SZOPAD, out of the 593 bridges constructed, 210 were constructed outside the SZOPAD area:
Province No. of bridges
Agusan del Norte 2
Agusan del Sur 50
Bukidnon 3
Cagayan de Oro City 13
Compostela Valley 5
Davao City 10
Davao del Norte 2
Davao Oriental 2
Misamis Occidental 8
Misamis Oriental 41
Ozamis City 1
Surigao del Norte 2
Surigao del Sur 4
Zamboanga –Sibugay 67
Total 210
Special Bridges-Austrian Asssisted Project The project
covered all regions except NCR.
Despite exclusion of NCR from the coverage, the Estrella – Pantaleon Bridge in Makati-Mandaluyong, Metro Manila with length of 200 l.m. was constructed under this project.
Concreting of 127m (1 lane) bridge approach at Mandaluyong City side of the bridge (with bridging materials on stock beside the pavement).
Selection
criteria Remarks
Ongoing construction of bored piles at Abutment B, Piers 2 and 3 (Mandaluyong side) as of January 2008.
DILG-President’s Bridge Program Phase II-Austrian Assisted Target
The targeted distributions were not observed as LGUs with counterpart funds were given priorities.
Actual Region Target Completed
Management’s Comments Team’s Rejoinder Response provided by Special Bridges PMO, DPWH
Admittedly, NCR is not included as a recipient of steel bridging materials in the Supply and Services Contract. However, in order to utilize the amount of Austrian Schilling of 43,749,462, Item 6 of the original contract (Contingencies to be sourced from Austrian origin), additional lengths of 825 linear meters of bridging materials were made available, which was evidently found to be more advantageous to the Philippine Government. From this additional 825 l.m., Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge was included as it was one of the sites identified to be badly in need of a new bridge in order to ease the heavy
Selection criteria are primarily established to identify the bridges that are to be included under the project. To accommodate the construction of other bridges that do not conform with the selection criteria may affect the efficient implementation of the project.
Management’s Comments Team’s Rejoinder traffic congestion in the
Makati-Mandaluyong area. This inclusion had been approved by President Gloria M.
Arroyo, (Annex “9”).
3. Construction of a number of double lane bridges was prioritized in