Frasco wants Liloan bridge contractor blacklisted, probed

CEBU, Philippines —  Prompted by the collapse of a bridge in the Municipality of Liloan constructed a year ago, Cebu 5th District Congressman Vincent “Duke” Frasco is now calling for the investigation of WTG Construction and Development Corporation.

The congressman also asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to blacklist the contractor from undertaking any of its project.

“I am calling on the DPWH for an immediate investigation, the suspension of this project, and to consider the blacklisting of this contractor,” Frasco said.

Joined by his wife, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, DPWH engineers, and a representative of the contractor, Frasco conducted an inspection of the collapsed retaining wall of the P32.3 million Parallel Suba Bridge.

In photos, it is visible how the steel pile sheets sectioning the bridge from the sea have given in, allowing part of the soil to spill over.

Atop this, it was reported that cracks have been discovered on the bridge. The steel piles of the bridge were also reported to have rusted, and subsequently were bent and cracked.

The discovery was said to have appalled Frasco and prompted him to call for an investigation on WTG, the contractor of the DPWH-funded project.

Also, the congressman denounced the use of subpar materials for the project and the poor quality of work put into it.

“The intention of this project was to alleviate traffic and ease people’s suffering. Because of evidently poor construction quality and an apparent disregard for standards and safety, the contractor is causing public endangerment,” he said.  KQD (FREEMAN)