7 SP majority urge traders to file TRO vs DPWH drainage project
PROPERTY owners are being urged to file a class suit seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the court to stop the construction of a drainage system and PCC pavement along Arellano Street and A.B. Fernandez Avenue East.
A possible class suit was raised during a public consultation conducted by the Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure chaired by Councilor Alvin Coquia and attended by six other majority councilors held on July 18 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall.
Among those that attended consultation were members of the defunct Flood Mitigation Commission created by former Mayor Brian Lim, and affected store owners protesting the 1.5-meter high drainage system being constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office.
The participants claimed they were not consulted on the elevation project, a claim vehemently denied by representatives of the DPWH regional office, who also attended the public consultation.
The DPWH stood by the project, saying that the design of the project took cognizance of the height of the flood, particularly at the intersection of A.B Fernandez and Arellano Street.
In that forum, Councilor Alfie Fernandez called on the DPWH to put the project on hold till after the people in the affected area give their full consent, but this was opposed by the agency because the notice to proceed was already issued to the contractors in four sections.
In that public consultation, Joseph Lo, a member of the defunct FMC, said because of the height of the drainage system, property owners need to give up their ground floor, a big toll on their business and they have no choice but to consider relocating to either Calasiao or Sta. Barbara.
The DPWH stood their ground that the project was well studied and its designs were prepared by experts in consideration of the present needs of Dagupan.
The majority in the SP scored the Fernandez administration for not acting on the recommendation of the past FMC in mitigating the floods of Dagupan, that included pumping stations, construction of sheet piles along the banks of rivers, construction of check gates and others. (Leonardo Micua)
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