Burnay Bridge… A Bridge Too Far! The still on-going Reconstruction of the fallen Burnay Bridge located at Banao, Lagawe, Ifugao is one project that test the mettle of personnel of the DPWH Ifugao First Engineering District headed by Eng’r. Albert N. Gahid. Construction started in November 2011 yet as of this date the steel bridge superstructure, though its launch is completed so that the bridge span is bolted on both ends, still look like the skeleton of a mammoth dinosaur. About half of the side panels and the massive floor beams are yet to be installed in place. Absent and uninstalled too is the steel decking that will comprise the roadway. Then the approaches on both ends of the bridge has to be done as well. The remaining work, by estimates of a civil engineer friend, can be completed in a month tops if the contractor is serious enough in getting the job done. In an informal conversation, DE Gahid lamented the state of things and confided that the controversial project is a management dilemma, a cross-road between technical and legal obligations on one hand, and the sum of all social responsibility to the public on the other. DE Gahid chose the latter even if the former is the easier option for he need only to impose the provisions of the contract between his office and EVPS Construction and all will be well on the technical and legal viewpoint. In sum, a termination of the contract is totally justified. Yet, the work having advanced that far and considering the value of the outstanding work, changing the contractor will take more time and the risk that there will be no takers stand out as a clear likelihood. That option will take some 5 months before a new contractor can start work at the project considering that contract termination will take 2 months minimum and re-programming and bidding up to the effectivity of the notice to proceed will entail 3 months minimum as well. That is if there will be bidders. Each failure of bid will require 1 ½ months more. Thus, the likelihood of work to start with a new contractor may take an indefinite period of time. Meanwhile, the inconvenience of the public will remain for a like period of time. Maintaining the current contractor despite its gross ineffieciency defies all logic inside DPWH and outside as well. Yet, 2 months more of patience is all that it takes. DE Gahid will see to it that all obligations of the contractor particularly pertaining to ‘liquidated damages’ will be imposed. The contractor will pay to the centavo the adverse cost of his inefficiency. DE Gahid’s and the DPWH’s choice is pro-people and might yet prove to be the wiser, more logical and more defensible option. As head of his district, he knows that he can take and perhaps explain his actuation to his bosses in the regional and central offices. He knew too that criticism from the public will be harsh. Yet he is firm in his belief that he will be justified in the end. I for one do think that he is absolutely justified.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 07:57:17 +0000
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