Guardrails in Bontoc road already budgeted, but not yet built

Many words have been said about the GV Florida bus that fell off a ravine in Bontoc, Mountain Province, last Feb. 7.

Approximately six months before the fatal accident, the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera Autonomous Region (DPWH-CAR) bid out two projects, each worth P5 million, for the installation of safety devices—one for the Dantay-Sagada road, and the other for the Bontoc-Ifugao road.

Under one of these two projects, guardrails were supposed to have been installed on the road section where a GV Florida bus fell.

There is talk that the project contractor has already received his 15-percent (or P750,000) mobilization funds (advance payment).

However, the project has not been started. Had guardrails been installed in that road section, maybe the bus would not have fallen off the ravine and/or there would have been fewer fatalities.

One other point: It appears that whoever in the DPWH-CAR designed the project (installation of road safety devices), he/she/they are not experienced or seasoned drivers, otherwise they would have known the specific sections that needed guardrails. Drive around Mountain Province and you will see so many installed guardrails that are just a waste of government money.

The DPWH-CAR and the DPWH-Mountain Province District Engineering Office act as if they are merely “reactionary forces.” They do install guardrails in accident sites but only after an accident?

An honest-to-goodness investigation on the accident will give justice to those who perished in that accident. May they rest in peace.

—JUNIPER C. DOMINGUEZ,

Sabangan, Mountain Provinces

[email protected]