Local News: Leonardia Disclaims: Sum-ag Road Maintenance Lies on Congressman, DPWH
The repair and maintenance of Bacolod South Road particularly Sum-ag, falls under the responsibility of the congressman and the Deparmtent of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) considering it is a national road. However, people blame the local government and the local officials, says Mayor Evelio Leonardia who was confronted by residents of Sum-ag. He said, the repair of Sum-ag road belongs to the DPWH.
Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson supported this, because he said "the Sum-ag Road is a national road and does not fall under the care and jurisdiction of the city." According to the Vice-Mayor, if they spend for it, they will be liable for double funding. Sum-ag residents, commuters and motorists consider Sum-ag road as "abortion road" because the tires of cars have to be sacrificed for the dangerous pot holes.
Leonardia said, "We are being blamed for it, but it’s not under our jurisdiction but under the Congressman."
On the other hand, Cong. Anthony Golez earlier told reporters that there is already a budget for the repair of the Sum-ag road and the project could be implemented this month.
Validating the situation, Vice Mayor Sayson said, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod even passed a resolution relative to the repair of the Sum-ag road. But they were informed that the budget for the road repair will be availed through a loan from World Bank, he said.
"We have not been remiss in our duty. We have reminded DPWH and have even written them seven months ago urging them on the need to repair the road and inquiring about the status of this project. As city officials, that is the most that we can do since that is a national road," Sayson stressed.
Actually, the massive road repairs in the South of Bacolod started during the incumbency of former Bacolod Rep. John Orola, Jr..
Orola said that before he stepped down as congressman, he was able to get the approval of about P800 million worth of projects for circumferential roads and Burgos to Granada road, including the Sum-ag road. But after he lost the election, he does not know if the budget for the project was implemented or not.*
