State of emergency in Barangay Pulangbato

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has declared a state of emergency in Barangay Pulangbato due to the ongoing issues surrounding an unfinished bridge project and the hazardous alternative routes available to residents.

However, the council expressed reservations about the potential emergency procurement that may follow the declaration, citing past instances where such actions led to sanctions against public officials, including the dismissal of former mayor Michael Rama.

During the council’s regular session on Wednesday, Councilor Joel Garganera, chair of the committee on disaster, moved for the approval of the resolution declaring a state of emergency in the barangay. The resolution also proposed allowing the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to proceed with emergency procurement to expedite the construction of the reinforced deck girder bridge connecting Sitio Candarong to Tanay Road.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, the majority floor leader, raised concerns about this provision. While acknowledging the urgent need to resolve the issue, she cautioned that the emergency procurement aspect could place city officials in a precarious position.

According to Pesquera, the council had already held two executive sessions on the matter and instructed the DEPW to fast-track the Programs of Work and Estimates (POWE) needed for the project.

“So, we have to take into account that at that time (Typhoon Odette), there was really an immediate need to address the concern on garbage that’s precisely why an emergency negotiated purchase was conducted,” Pesquera said, recalling a previous situation that led to Rama’s dismissal following an emergency purchase after the typhoon.

She emphasized that the current situation may not qualify as an emergency since deliberations on the issue began months ago and the DEPW has yet to respond to the council’s directive regarding the POWE.

“And if we will have it on emergency purchase, granting that they will follow our resolution and they will make a shortcut considering that there is already a resolution from the council, then maybe there will no longer submit to the council the POWE,” Pesquera warned, noting the risk of bypassing council oversight.

She added that moving forward without council review could endanger the members’ positions, drawing parallels to Rama’s experience—a concern Councilor Garganera shared.

In response, Garganera stated that he would support the declaration of a state of emergency but exclude the emergency procurement provision until the necessary documentation is clarified by the City Council’s Committee on Infrastructure.

The city government had aimed to speed up rehabilitation work on the Pulangbato Bridge during the dry season. The contractor for the project had already been terminated, increasing the urgency for resolution.

Seven months after Barangay Pulangbato officials first called for a state of emergency, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) finally endorsed the recommendation. Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia noted that the barangay had been requesting completion of the bridge project since 2013.

To recall, Rama was meted another dismissal from service by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct despite having previously dismissed 10 months earlier.

Based on a 19-page decision obtained by the media, Rama, along with Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) officials—Leizl Calamba, Lyndon Bernardo Basan, Conrado Ordesta III, Janeses Bordario, Ponce, and Dominic Diño—was dismissed for Grave Misconduct following a complaint by Jundel Bontuyan.

The complaint involved three Purchase Orders (POs) for garbage collection and disposal services awarded to what Bontuyan described as “allegedly favored companies”---Jomara Konstruckt Corp., ACM Hauling Services, and ARN Central Waste Management Inc. The affidavit claimed these suppliers were chosen “without the benefit of competitive public bidding.” — / FPL (FREEMAN)