Public safety, access sought in P225M Pampanga road project

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – A leader of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) has demanded the installation of security and access devices by commercial establishments along an ongoing P225 million road project on Manila North Road this capital of Pampanga.

Renato Romero, co-founder and director of PamCham, said he was concerned about public safety amid excavations and other preliminary work in the area.

Roseller Tolentino, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said he instructed district engineers to ensure contractor compliance.

Royal Crown Monarch Construction and Supplies Corp., the known winning bidder, reportedly began installing signage and reflective posts Monday night.

The project, located along the banking district of Barangay Dolores, replaces the asphalt finish with cement blocks.

Romero said the plastic straws and yellow tape that prohibit crossings are not enough to guarantee public safety.

Billboards informing the public of the project duration, contractor, quantity and number of construction days were nowhere to be seen, Romero said.

“PIDPs (project information tables) are important for transparency and accountability. And there is a mandatory size for them. The Dolores Intersection project does not have a billboard. This should have been placed before the actual works,” Romero said in a statement.

Several establishments along the project segment reported drops in clientele of up to 50 percent. INQ