Sta Fe council to probe 2 ‘illegal’ watch tower projects

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has disowned the proposed construction of two watch towers bearing the agency’s name along the white sand beaches of Santa Fe town on Bantayan Island.

Two municipal roads in between Kota Beach and Budyong Beach and in between Budyong Beach and Osmeña Beach were closed to give way for the construction of the project to be undertaken by JFAP Construction.

The proposed two watch towers will stand side by side Budyong Beach, which was allegedly bought by a high-ranking government official for over P100 million last year.

Engineer Susan Ornopia, acting head of the First District Engineering Office where Santa Fe belongs, said that she is not aware of the project and never met the contractor undertaking any projects in the district.

Repaso said even Mayor Ithamar Espinosa got shocked of the project.

Local officials of Santa Fe met Friday with the contractor who reportedly did not say any words.

“Amo lang gihangyo na di lang sa sugdan kay makipag-estorya sa ang konseho sa DPWH,” said Councilor Jayson Repaso.

Ornopia was invited to the municipal council session this week to shed light on the issue.

Ornopia promised to look into the project.

“There might be something fishy behind this project,” Ornopia said in a Facebook comment.

She also noticed that the tarpaulins plastered on the project site are not of DPWH standards.

Repaso described the “untimely projects” as “short of rhyme and reason” and are “not only highly preposterous but likewise blatant defiance and outright mockery” of the existing laws and jurisprudence.

Repaso, a lawyer, cited that under the Local Government Code, two requisites must concur before a national project that affects the environment and ecological balance of local communities can be implemented.

These include prior consultation with the affected local communities, and prior approval of the project by the appropriate Sangguniang Bayan.

Absent either of these mandatory requirements, the project’s implementation is illegal. (Municipality of San Mateo, Rizal et. al. vs. Executive Secretary et.al. G.R. No. 129546).

In the instant scenario in Sant Fe, Repaso said the DPWH miserably failed to comply with both mandatory requirements of the law.

“Since, you are banking on illegal undertaking, we, the people of Santa Fe cannot simply countenanced the same. Hence, our strong and loud opposition!!! Sa kadaghan sa karsada nga guba-on, Watch Tower jud inyo unahon?,” Repaso posted on his Facebook. — KQD (FREEMAN)