Entities involved in the construction of the Ma-a Magtuod Overpass have committed to finish the project in March next year.
Representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH), Gemma Construction and Supply Inc., the contractor of the project, the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), Globe, and PLDT reiterated their timeline for the completion of their respective projects during Tuesday’s session of the 21st City Council.
Among the issues presented by the DPWH is that the progress of the project depended on DLPC’s removal of the transmission posts that hinder the road widening works for the bridge’s completion.
DLPC President and Chief Operating Officer Enriczar Tia said that they can remove the poles in two to three months.
“The estimated duration of the project, assuming that all the right of way has been acquired is 2-3 months. After three months we should be able to remove the poles already,” Tia said.
Tia said that three sets of 10-hour power interruptions are needed in order to implement the removal.
“We will need to do this by phase so that hindi sunod-sunod. We will time it properly and we will announce it ahead of time so that we manage the expectation of everyone that is affected,” he said.
The DLPC will conduct regular meetings and update the DPWH with progress reports.
Representatives from PLDT and Globe said that they are closely coordinating with DLPC for the pull out of their cables. The telco companies were able to prepare and have re-routed connections in areas not affected by the development.
Jay Salvosa, the representative of Gemma Construction, reiterated that the continuation of their work depends on the removal of poles and road right of way issues that the project faces.
“Makakapag-umpisa kami kung wala ng obstruction (We can continue if there is no more obstruction),” he said.
“The current status is tapos na po ang bridge, need po naming is yung dalawang approaches, ang problem sa approaches is yung working space, which is kailangan natin i-widen para madaanan ng mga commuter (The current status is that the bridge is already complete. What we need are the two approaches, but the problem with the approaches is the working space, which we need to widen so that commuters can pass through).,” Salvosa said.
As to the Road Right of Way issues, DPWH representative Engr. James Arieta said they have already settled them and also cleared the sites for DLPC to proceed with the relocation of the poles.
“Hopefully, once ma-clear na ang atong electrical posts as per na mention ni Davao Light na timeline, maka-start na kami ng access road para sa approaches ng bridge sa northern and southbound lane (Hopefully, once our electrical posts are cleared, as mentioned in the timeline by Davao Light, we can start constructing the access road for the approaches of the bridge on the northbound and southbound lanes),” Arieta said.
DPWH spokesperson Dean Ortiz added that given the DLPC’s commitment, their office will need three months after removal of the electrical posts to complete the project.
“Since DLPC cited that they will be able to move all the poles in the next two to three months, then our commitment to finish the structure will also be moved in three months, subsequently that’s in March 2026,” Ortiz said.
The Council meanwhile approved the creation of an ad hoc or special committee to monitor the Maa-Magtuod Flyover Project. The committee is composed of Councilor Jessica Bonguyan as chair, Councilor Louie Bonguyan as vice chairperson with Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Advincula,Councilor Luna Acosta, and Councilor Jopet Baluran as members.CIO
