Tubod, Lanao del Norte – 16 defective portions have been discovered by a joint inspection team on the three road segments in the biggest infrastructure project here in this province.

The Metro Iligan Regional Infrastructure Development Project or MIRIDP is expected to pump prime the economic development to municipalities covered by its implementation especially the interior towns of Lanao del Norte.

However, provincial and municipal executives are now scrutinizing the project after receiving mounting complaints from local residents.

“We need to point out these defects while the Defect Liability Period has not yet expired. During this period, the contractor is obligated to repair any and all defects observed in the project”, said Provincial Project Director Dennis Aguipo.

The MIRIDP is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and contracted by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited.

In a related development, acting on the alleged failure of the Hanjin Construction Co. to maintain the three road projects, Tagoloan Mayor Mighty Dimakuta will file charges at the Department of Justice for violation of contract.

As agreed by the provincial government of Lanao del Norte and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited, the latter shall maintain the road projects for at least a year after completion.

Dimakuta will also ask the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to deport the officers of the Korean construction firm.

“The Hanjin leaders or officers must be serious in their dealings with the local residents or provincial leaders particularly about forged contract they signed as every provision or agreement stated in the contract should be complied”, Dimakuta said in an interview.

The legal action arose after repeated requests from the Tagoloan Mayor allegedly remained unheeded by Hanjin Construction Corporation.

Comprising the joint inspectorate team are representatives from PGLDN, DPWH, Oriental Consultants International and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited.

According to the report submitted by the Inspectorate Team, six defective portions were observed along Segment 3 (Kauswagan-Delabayan-Munai Road), three defective portions were noted on Segment 2A (MIRAIC area), four defective sections were seen along Segment 2a and 2 (MIRAIC area-Linamon-Matungao-Baloi), and three defective sections were also noted on Segment 2 and 1B (Tagoloan-Baloi road).