Manila Water’s Cardona plant, located in Barangay Calahan, Cardona, Rizal, was mentioned in discussions about the recent water crisis by the above cited water concessionaire.
In 2016, the construction of the said plant started with diggings and excavations on both sides of the town’s national road.
But, after gigantic water pipes were buried underneath, the roads were never restored to their former concrete form. Instead, the pipes were covered by soft soil and an inferior asphalt mix, and no steamroller was used to even out the surface of the roads.
This year, the diggings and excavations continued while road restoration was never undertaken. With an uneven road surface, the place was transformed into an accident-prone area. Vehicular accidents became frequent, the breakdown of tricycles’ wheel bearing becoming rampant.
Residents living along the national roads, meanwhile, endured the dust and elements due to the unrestored roads.
With no relief in sight as local officials have showed no empathy (there is talk of alleged payoff to host the Manila Water Cardona plant), we appeal to Ayala’s business empire to fix the mess brought upon the suffering people of Cardona, Rizal, who have endured three years of this insulting road signage: “BEAR WITH US, THIS PROJECT WILL BRING BETTER SERVICE.”
TORIBIO J. RAYMUNDO,
395 Barangay Looc,
Cardona, Rizal