PIA cites DPWH 8 chief for prompt action on the LMWD request

By LEONILO LOPIDO, PIA 8
September 10, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Philippine Information Agency Director in Eastern Visayas lauded the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 8 Director for his prompt action on the issue of the water expansion project in Tacloban City.

Director Olive Pecson Tiu, in a radio interview, said that during the weekly Harampang Ha PIA on September 6, Director Rolando Asis told the local media that he will act on the request of LMWD for exemption on the Department Order No. which calls for putting up of pipes at least nine meters from the center line of the National Road, upon receipt of said letter from LMWD.

Director Tiu, later found out that the LMWD has already earlier submitted such letter to a personnel of DPWH Region 8.

The PIA director then called up the DPWH Regional office and was told that indeed the letter was received by said personnel but he has not yet given the letter to Director Asis.

PIA was given the assurance that said personnel will discuss the request with Director Asis that day, Friday, September 7.

True enough, on September 7, Director Asis issued a Memorandum to District Engineer Arnaldo Bonifacio of the DPWH Sub Engineering District in Tacloban City, copy furnished the General Manager of LMWD Engr. Nestor Villasin, advising Engr. Bonifacio to allow the LMWD to continue or to resume the pipe installation in Tacloban City.

In his September 7 memo, Director Asis ordered DE Bonifacio to allow LMWD to continue with the pipeline installation in areas where there are no illegal settlers, violators and encroachers of the Road Right of Way as provided for in Section 13 of Presidential Decree No. 17.

Asis added that it should be taken into consideration that the pipe installations shall be maintained at 9.0 meters from the center line of the National Road.

The same memo provided that a deviation on the pipe laying may be made if and when the removal of the illegal structures or obstruction yet cannot be done at this point of time for justifiable reasons.

Several local media practitioners extolled the role PIA played in the early resolution of the issue.

Had the PIA stopped after being told by DPWH that it has yet to receive the request, then both parties would still be waiting for the action of the other, without knowing where the bottleneck was.