CALBAYOG CITY – Rehabilitation of a 1950’s drainage canal at Pajarito Street here has been implemented by the city government with a Php232,000 fund allocation.
Works are effected to rehabilitate the drainage canal along Pajarito Street, situated between Bugallon and Rosales Boulevard within the city’s commercial area.
The subject canal, according to City Engineer Ramon Tan, has been in existence since the 1950’s and was built in accordance with the structural standards of a water passage at that time. Through the years, its maintenance entailed reinforcement of its flooring, side walls and top cover until its concrete cover collapsed – a sign that maintenance or reinforcement works was no longer suitable.
Works are effected to rehabilitate the drainage canal along Pajarito Street, situated between Bugallon and Rosales Boulevard within the city’s commercial area.
The subject canal, according to City Engineer Ramon Tan, has been in existence since the 1950’s and was built in accordance with the structural standards of a water passage at that time. Through the years, its maintenance entailed reinforcement of its flooring, side walls and top cover until its concrete cover collapsed – a sign that maintenance or reinforcement works was no longer suitable.
“As early as the third quarter of 2017, the office was already looking into the rehabilitation of the subject drainage when the concrete surface or cover has manifested signs that the canal walling has yielded to soil erosion,” Engr. Ramon Tan told Calbayog Journal.
After a thorough on-site study of the nature of the drainage canal and adhering to government procedures for the approval of funds to implement works, the Office of the City Engineer has caused for the approval and release of Php232,000.00 fund requirement for the rehabilitation works to be implemented by administration.
The City Engineer also shared information that one of the causes that delayed the implementation of the rehabilitation work is the lack of qualified supplier for sand and gravel in the city.
“None of the city’s licensed dealer of construction supplies, particularly sand and gravel, possess a permit from the provincial government of Samar for the extraction of sand and gravel and other quarry resources as specified in the Local Government Code and it’s Implementing Rules and Regulations which means that we have to look for suppliers outside of the city,” the city engineer said.
After a thorough on-site study of the nature of the drainage canal and adhering to government procedures for the approval of funds to implement works, the Office of the City Engineer has caused for the approval and release of Php232,000.00 fund requirement for the rehabilitation works to be implemented by administration.
The City Engineer also shared information that one of the causes that delayed the implementation of the rehabilitation work is the lack of qualified supplier for sand and gravel in the city.
“None of the city’s licensed dealer of construction supplies, particularly sand and gravel, possess a permit from the provincial government of Samar for the extraction of sand and gravel and other quarry resources as specified in the Local Government Code and it’s Implementing Rules and Regulations which means that we have to look for suppliers outside of the city,” the city engineer said.
In an interview with Ms. Angeles Ygbuhay, managing proprietor for Mary Jo Construction and Supplies, Calbayog Journal was informed about their difficulty in securing a permit to extract sand and gravel for a few years now for which reason they have to stop extraction activities.
“One of the prerequisites before we can be issued a permit by the provincial government is a Resolution from the Barangay Chairman and Council declaring, among others, that the area where sand and gravel is extracted is not in the way of any development activity of the Barangay,” Ms. Ygbuhay told.
Mrs. Ygbuhay added that “in the absence of that Resolution, an applicant cannot be issued a permit to extract gravel, sand and other quarry materials anywhere in the province and where in our case, as Mary Jo Construction and Supplies, the Barangay Council in Mawacat, Oquendo District, did not issue such Resolution in our favor making us buy from qualified suppliers in Leyte for our use in hollow block making.”
“One of the prerequisites before we can be issued a permit by the provincial government is a Resolution from the Barangay Chairman and Council declaring, among others, that the area where sand and gravel is extracted is not in the way of any development activity of the Barangay,” Ms. Ygbuhay told.
Mrs. Ygbuhay added that “in the absence of that Resolution, an applicant cannot be issued a permit to extract gravel, sand and other quarry materials anywhere in the province and where in our case, as Mary Jo Construction and Supplies, the Barangay Council in Mawacat, Oquendo District, did not issue such Resolution in our favor making us buy from qualified suppliers in Leyte for our use in hollow block making.”
Article 227 – Tax on Sand, Gravel, and Other Quarry Resources in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code states that the (a) the province may levy and collect not more than ten percent (10%) of fair market value in the locality per cubic meter of ordinary stones, sand, gravel, earth and other quarry resources. . . extracted from public lands or from the beds of seas. . .and other public waters within its territorial jurisdiction. The permit to extract sand, gravel, and ther quarry resources shall be issued exclusively by the governor, pursuant to the ordinance of the sangguniang panlalawigan.
The city engineer’s office is set to call for a meeting with suppliers, dealers and/or resellers of sand, gravel and other quarry materials in the city to consider the difficulty of a permit from the provincial government.(CJ)
The city engineer’s office is set to call for a meeting with suppliers, dealers and/or resellers of sand, gravel and other quarry materials in the city to consider the difficulty of a permit from the provincial government.(CJ)
