When we were in downtown Davao City last month we experienced a humongous vehicular traffic. So massive was the traffic during that trip of ours that it took us roughly one and a half hours to negotiate the route from Bangkal to the editorial office of this newspaper at C. Bangoy st. And to think that the distance travelled was merely seven kilometers. While we were grumbling of our delay we tried to find the reason why there was so much traffic. Along the way we realized that some portions of the cemented MacArthur National Highway that were already overlaid with asphalt were again destroyed and overlaid with the same road paving material.
Despite what happened we consoled ourselves by believing that the delay in our travel was the price we have to pay for the development desired. So instead of openly manifesting our grumblings we just let the occasion go as if we are not bothered at all with the road situation.
Yesterday morning we were again back to the city proper primarily to meet our long missed media friends and some fellow workers at the power distribution utility. We were expecting another bout with long lines of vehicles competing for space in the roads.
But no, only a short stretch of the national highway somewhere fronting the Ateneo campus in Matina where we found a bumper-to-bumper situation. But traffic was smooth starting from the Magallanes-Quirino Ave. junction. So we were able to arrive on time to salvage our appointments.
However, there were still workers destroying the asphalt overlay in the stretch from Balusong to the SPED high school in Bangkal. Vehicles, though, were not stuck for long.
But no, we are not complaining about the traffic. We know it can happen on any day or time when certain obstacle interferes with the normal flow of vehicles. What seems to get the goat out from us and so with several others is the wanton use of government money in overlaying and destroying downtown roads which still appear in very good condition.
And whichever entity is doing this – whether the national or local government – it is clear that they have lost sight of several other roads especially those leading to far-flung highland villages that require upgrading.
There are even projects that the government – local or national – has implemented and completed without regard to whether these can be immediately ready for use. One example is that roughly ten- meter concrete bridge that spans a creek serving as boundary of Barangays Catalunan Grande in the first district, and Tacunan in the third.
The approach of the bridge from Catalunan Grande is cemented but it is not connected to the existing road coming from the direction of the sprawling residential compound of first district Congressman Polong Duterte.
At the Tacunan end of the short bridge no approach is found and there is still no sign that a stretch is acquired for a right-of-way to connect the bridge to the road leading to Tacunan proper.
How come the concerned entity of government proceeded with the construction of the bridge when it is aware that no rights-of-way were acquired for the approaches of the span? What motivated the agency to ignore the consequence?
Meanwhile, there is another intriguing aspect of a road widening project at the vicinity of the Tacunan National High School. One lane about 70 meters stretch that is supposed to be an expansion has remained uncompleted for years now.
We had been taking the rout for some three years now every time we go downtown Davao City. Still, nothing is done to have that side paved either with concrete or asphalt; not even simple mountain mix aggregates. We are hoping that some councilors from the third district will find time to visit the area. Probably they can help facilitate the completion of the expansion.
We also wish Congressman Isidro Ungab to send his action man to Tacunan and see for himself the situation of the uncompleted road project.
Or, maybe Mayor Baste can take a break from his role in the Maisug group’s campaign to oust the current Malacanang tenant and see for himself the unfinished road expansion at the barangay center of Tacunan. He may be jolted from his apparent stupor or from other pre-occupation.
