PORAC, Pampanga – “It’s a win-win situation.”
Thus said yesterday Porac Quarry Association (PQA) President Mike Tapang as he urged the use of the west lateral part of the megadike for sand haulers in Pampanga.
However, Tapang stressed that he will push for the use of the 15.3-kilometer dike once the engineering experts commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will agree to his plan.
“It will be both beneficial to the people and sand traders if we use the dike. But I will not ask for it’s use if it will endanger lives and properties of the general public,” said Tapang.
In a phone interview yesterday, Pampanga 1st District Board Member Cris Garbo said he “remains non-committal over Tapang’s plan.” He was vocal against the use of the dike stretching from Porac to Bacolor up to the City of San Fernando when Tapang visited the provincial board at the capitol last Monday.
Garbo said he will be “open” to Tapang’s plan once the DPWH releases a study on the viability of the dike as a major route of gravel and sand-laden trucks.
Garbo stressed that Tapang’s plan should also be subjected to public consultation before they approve it.
Tapang disclosed that Angeles City Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno had issued an order banning trucks from passing in the city, including in Barangay Cutcut where the trucks pass by from Porac en route to Metro Manila and other areas in Pampanga. The mayor’s order will take effect on November 15.
Tapang said Nepomuceno had originally wanted a daily 24-hour total ban. But he asked Nepomuceno to allow them to pass from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
“At least the mayor of Angeles kept an open mind otherwise it will affect the industry,” said Tapang, disclosing that the Porac government earns between P1.5 million to P3 million monthly from the quarry income derived from the P300 fee imposed by the provincial capitol.
Tapang also said he want trucks not to pass in Angeles that’s why he had proposed the use of the dike.
Tapang said under his proposal that government would use at least P1 billion for a Megadike Toll Road. He said the toll road would be “viable” as some 1,000 to 2,000 trucks haul sand in the province.
Tapang said they had submitted a proposal to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the conversion of the 15-kilometer western lateral portion of the Megadike, an alternate route that will cater to truckers and other motorists.
Arroyo had already asked newly appointed Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo to dangle the unsolicited proposal to would-be financier or “takers” of the proposed structure, which will be built through build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.
Thus said yesterday Porac Quarry Association (PQA) President Mike Tapang as he urged the use of the west lateral part of the megadike for sand haulers in Pampanga.
However, Tapang stressed that he will push for the use of the 15.3-kilometer dike once the engineering experts commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will agree to his plan.
“It will be both beneficial to the people and sand traders if we use the dike. But I will not ask for it’s use if it will endanger lives and properties of the general public,” said Tapang.
In a phone interview yesterday, Pampanga 1st District Board Member Cris Garbo said he “remains non-committal over Tapang’s plan.” He was vocal against the use of the dike stretching from Porac to Bacolor up to the City of San Fernando when Tapang visited the provincial board at the capitol last Monday.
Garbo said he will be “open” to Tapang’s plan once the DPWH releases a study on the viability of the dike as a major route of gravel and sand-laden trucks.
Garbo stressed that Tapang’s plan should also be subjected to public consultation before they approve it.
Tapang disclosed that Angeles City Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno had issued an order banning trucks from passing in the city, including in Barangay Cutcut where the trucks pass by from Porac en route to Metro Manila and other areas in Pampanga. The mayor’s order will take effect on November 15.
Tapang said Nepomuceno had originally wanted a daily 24-hour total ban. But he asked Nepomuceno to allow them to pass from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
“At least the mayor of Angeles kept an open mind otherwise it will affect the industry,” said Tapang, disclosing that the Porac government earns between P1.5 million to P3 million monthly from the quarry income derived from the P300 fee imposed by the provincial capitol.
Tapang also said he want trucks not to pass in Angeles that’s why he had proposed the use of the dike.
Tapang said under his proposal that government would use at least P1 billion for a Megadike Toll Road. He said the toll road would be “viable” as some 1,000 to 2,000 trucks haul sand in the province.
Tapang said they had submitted a proposal to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the conversion of the 15-kilometer western lateral portion of the Megadike, an alternate route that will cater to truckers and other motorists.
Arroyo had already asked newly appointed Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo to dangle the unsolicited proposal to would-be financier or “takers” of the proposed structure, which will be built through build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.
