REVILLA TO PROBE STATUS OF
BRIDGES AND FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. wants a thorough probe on the status of all bridge and flood control projects nationwide.

In an on-site inspection today the senator uncovered additional anomalies in the construction of the Tullahan Bridge in Valenzuela City .

Revilla, who chairs the Senate Public Works Committee, discovered that the foundations for the "death trap" bridge were not buried deep enough contrary to project specifications.

"Worse, we found out that the new piles were simply attached to the old foundations in an obvious attempt to cut costs at the expense of safety," Revilla said in disgust.

Revilla explained that the driven piles did not reach the required depth of at least six-meters because the piles likely hit the old foundations.

"We probably opened a can of worms here. Given the rainy season, there is an urgent need to review all related infrastructure projects," he said.

There are at least 23 major bridges in Metro Manila prioritized for reconstruction and rehabilitation this year, according to Revilla. The Tullahan Bridge was supposed to have been completed last May.

The senator also learned that smaller steel reinforcement bars were used for the structures in violation of the approved plans. Only 4-32 millimeter rebars were used instead of the specified 12-32 millimeter rebars, said Revilla. "This is a death trap, a Minneapolis waiting to happen," Revilla said in reference to a Minneapolis bridge in the United States which collapsed recently killing at least nine people.

Revilla discovered that the Tullahan Bridge contractor, R.C. Ramos Construction, changed the original design and specifications of the project without the approval of the Bureau of Design, the concerned agency of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The senator earlier urged DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to fire the responsible project director and put R.C. Ramos Construction in the blacklist of firms not allowed to undertake any government construction project.

Revilla was particularly dismayed at the failure of DPWH-National Capital Region Director Josefino Rigor to properly oversee the project.

"There is apparent connivance between government people and the construction company for these anomalies to take place," the senator pointed out.

Revilla agrees with the observation of DPWH engineers that the project will fail to meet the extended deadline of end September this year because of the large volume of work remaining.

That is why the maverick administration senator also wants to inquire into the causes of delays in the various government infrastructure projects like the multi-billion CAMANAVA Flood Control project.

Like the Tullahan Bridge , the project should have been completed last May but is now only 75 percent done, according to Revilla.

"We've been spending billions and billions of pesos into flood control and prevention measures and yet come the rainy season, all we see is flooding in various parts of the country," said Revilla.

The Cavite senator said that is it "high time to come out with a master plan" on flood control and prevention.

"Not only are lives and properties are lost whenever there are floods but the losses to production may be truly hurting," Revilla said.

As such, Revilla wants the National Economic Development Authority and other related agencies to take a hand in the process.

Revilla was joined in the site inspection by Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian.