Vince Dizon blames EDSA busway barriers for potholes

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday blamed concrete barriers along the EDSA Busway for potholes that developed on the southbound portion of the newly rehabilitated highway near Buendia, saying the barriers prevented rainwater from properly draining.

At a Palace briefing, Dizon said he was furious after inspecting a portion of the newly rehabilitated EDSA over the weekend amid heavy rains and finding potholes caused by damaged asphalt.

“Ang damaged area doon sa catch basin between Estrella and Buendia. Doon kasi ang bagsak ng lahat ng tubig mula Guadalupe pababa. Makikita ninyo naman eh, doon talaga ang bagsak. So ang problema lang doon, ‘yung mga barrier ng busway,” Dizon said.

(The damaged area is at the catch basin between Estrella and Buendia. That’s where all the water flowing down from Guadalupe collects. You can see it for yourselves. The problem there is the busway barriers.)

Dizon explained that the busway barriers prevented rainwater from reaching the drainage system, causing water to accumulate and damage the asphalt.

“Hinaharang ‘yung pag-drain ng tubig mula sa busway, papunta sa drainage natin sa kabilang side. So, kung mapapansin ninyo ‘yung area na ‘yun, ‘yung area na nakakalabas ang tubig walang sira. Pero ‘yung area sa busway na ang tubig naiiwan dahil nakaharang ‘yung mga barrier ng busway,” he added.

(The barriers are preventing water from the busway from flowing into the drainage system on the other side. If you look at the area, the section where water can drain properly is undamaged. But the section along the busway, where water accumulates because the barriers block its flow, is damaged.)

Dizon said he had spoken with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) about rearranging the concrete barriers along the EDSA Busway and leaving gaps between them to allow water to flow into the drainage system.

“Kasi ang number one na kalaban ng aspalto eh tubig. Kapag ang tubig naiwan kahit na ilang oras lang iyan, ito araw ang binilang, talagang masisira ‘yun,” he explained.

(The number one enemy of asphalt is water. If water is left standing for even just a few hours—let alone for days—it will really cause damage.)

Forbes Park wall

Dizon also said authorities should determine who was responsible for building the perimeter wall of North Forbes Park in Makati City that collapsed over the weekend.

“Clearly, hindi maayos ‘yung pagkagawa noong perimeter wall ng North Forbes Park,” he said.

(Clearly, the North Forbes Park perimeter wall was not properly constructed.)

“Ngayon, ang kailangan nating malaman since matagal na ‘yan, tingin ko medyo dekada na rin ‘yung binilang ng mga pader na ‘yan, we have to find out muna sino ba ang gumawa, sino ba ang nagpagawa nito,” he continued.

(Now, what we need to determine, since those walls have been there for quite some time—probably for decades—is who built them and who commissioned their construction.)

The DPWH chief said the agency is seeking the MMDA’s assistance in identifying those responsible for the collapsed wall so they can be held accountable.

“And number two, we have to decide kung ano ang gagawin doon, gigibain na ba ‘yun nang safely? So makikipag-coordinate tayo sa LGU at sa MMDA kung ano ang gagawin natin doon, pero definitely, kailangang ayusin na ‘yun,” he said.

(Secondly, we have to decide what to do with it and whether it needs to be safely demolished. We will coordinate with the local government and the MMDA on the next steps, but it definitely needs to be fixed.) — MCG, GMA News