MABALACAT, Pampanga – Porac Councilor Mike Tapang yesterday stressed the need to develop the west lateral dike as alterative road for sand haulers in Pampanga.
Tapang, president of the Porac Quarry Association (PQA), made anew his appeal after Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda had inspected the west portion of the FVR megadike last week.
The governor was disappointed to see that the structure had been badly damaged by trucks passing along the 16-kilometer dike for about 15 years.
Tapang said he will present to Pineda a study made and completed by PQA in 2009 on the group’s proposal to allow a prominent private agency develop, maintain and operate the dike completed in 1995.
In the study, the PQA said a local or international company would be asked to create a toll road on the west dike allowing the smooth transfer of sand from quarry sites in the province to Metro Manila.
The PQA study proposed a build-operate-transfer scheme (BOT). It could be recalled that Tapang had been criticized for publicly announcing his support for the creation of a toll road on the dike.
But Tapang said he felt vindicated as Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda expressed her intention to develop the dike using the provincial government’s funds.
Pineda vowed to infuse at least P100 million for the repair and maintenance of the dike passing along areas in Bacolor, Sta. Rita and Porac.
However, Tapang said their proposal will allow Pineda to save the P100-million funds intended for the development of the dike. He added that Pineda could instead use the budget for the delivery of basic services and other projects prioritized by the governor.
Tapang said the PQA could be held liable if the dike will be damaged due to their proposal.
“As long as we get the permit from the provincial government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that we will have the authority to pass in the dike, then, we will not be asked to pay those illegal fees,” said Tapang, referring to the illegal passway fee imposed on sand truckers passing along the dike and other areas in Pampanga.
Tapang, president of the Porac Quarry Association (PQA), made anew his appeal after Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda had inspected the west portion of the FVR megadike last week.
The governor was disappointed to see that the structure had been badly damaged by trucks passing along the 16-kilometer dike for about 15 years.
Tapang said he will present to Pineda a study made and completed by PQA in 2009 on the group’s proposal to allow a prominent private agency develop, maintain and operate the dike completed in 1995.
In the study, the PQA said a local or international company would be asked to create a toll road on the west dike allowing the smooth transfer of sand from quarry sites in the province to Metro Manila.
The PQA study proposed a build-operate-transfer scheme (BOT). It could be recalled that Tapang had been criticized for publicly announcing his support for the creation of a toll road on the dike.
But Tapang said he felt vindicated as Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda expressed her intention to develop the dike using the provincial government’s funds.
Pineda vowed to infuse at least P100 million for the repair and maintenance of the dike passing along areas in Bacolor, Sta. Rita and Porac.
However, Tapang said their proposal will allow Pineda to save the P100-million funds intended for the development of the dike. He added that Pineda could instead use the budget for the delivery of basic services and other projects prioritized by the governor.
Tapang said the PQA could be held liable if the dike will be damaged due to their proposal.
“As long as we get the permit from the provincial government and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that we will have the authority to pass in the dike, then, we will not be asked to pay those illegal fees,” said Tapang, referring to the illegal passway fee imposed on sand truckers passing along the dike and other areas in Pampanga.
