Govt execs appeal to Hanjin to maintain MIRIDP roads
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Tubod, Lanao del Norte – After a joint inspection by government officials in this province, municipal mayors and provincial heads appeal to Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited to diligently maintain the MIRIDP road network as guaranteed in the warranty clause of the MIRIDP contract.
The call was prompted after the inspection team discovered that a recent massive landslide in a stretch of road along the Tagoloan-Baloi boundary was allegedly caused by a clogged drainage system.
Metro Iligan Regional Infrastructure Development Project (MIRIDP) is an offsite infrastructure support of the Metro Iligan Regional Agro-Industrial Center (MIRAIC) expected to pump prime the economic development to municipalities covered by its implementation especially the interior towns of Lanao del Norte.
Hanjin Construction Company is the contractor of this biggest infrastructure project in this fast-rising province of Lanao del Norte with a project cost of 1.4 billion pesos.
However, the onslaught of seasonal rains is threatening to cause more landslides in the 54-kilometer project if proper road maintenance is not observed which could result to impassable roads and loss of lives.
With the rainy season nearing its peak, government officials are urging Hanjin Construction Company to hasten their drainage clearing operations and faithfully comply with the stipulations of warranty clause.
“The road clearing operation is now being spearheaded by the provincial government supported by DPWH. We are also expecting the equipment from Hanjin company to arrive here in the landslide area by today so we can clear this access road as soon as possible”, Provincial Project Director Dennis Aguipo.
Clearing operation is expected to last three days before the road segment becomes open again to local traffic.
While the Defect Liability Period (DLP) for the MIRIDP project has still not lapsed, provincial and town officials are identifying the defective portions of the road network. During the infrastructure warranty period, the contractor is obligated to repair any and all defects observed in the project.
After the final inspection of the project by the Provincial Inspectorate Team on September 23, 2010, the residents became optimistic of the economic boosts that the mammoth project will bring to the province. However, as landsides start to demolish portions of the road network due to poor maintenance, people are raising questions on the sincerity of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited.
The MIRIDP is a flagship project of the Dimaporo leadership and envisioned by the architects of this program to provide the countryside with economic opportunities that will propel Lanao del Norte into becoming a new powerhouse province.
