• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The proposed city ordinance mandating prior local consultation for all national government infrastructure projects is moving forward following a recent public hearing led by Councilor Atty. Caesar Distrito.
Authored by Distrito, the proposed ordinance would mandate prior consultation with the city government, including barangays, to ensure coordination.
“The DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) is required to do that before implementing a project. This is a call for transparency, accountability and coordination,” Distrito said.
The councilor said that a prior consultation must be done with the city and barangay so they can reject the project if they deemed it unnecessary.
“Most of them are now implementing projects without our knowledge. They will fix roads without a traffic plan and a prior notice,” he added.
Distrito stated that the DPWH said they will comply and will consult with their legal department to know how to comply with the provision of the ordinance.
He added that they will approve the proposed ordinance whether the agency will support or not as long as it will have votes in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the city.*
