After ascertaining that there were indeed several defects in the two farm-to-market roads in Mindanao’s Sultan Kudarat, the Department of Agrarian Reform has stopped the turnover of these infrastructure projects.
Undersecretary for Foreign-Assisted Special Projects Bernie Cruz ordered the deferment of the transfer of management and maintenance of a P34.55-million farm-to-market road to officials and residents of Barangay Masiag, Bagumbayan town after he and Mayor Jonalette de Pedro discovered that the contractor used thinly layered gravel and sand in some portions of the 4.15-kilometer road project.
“We will call the attention of the contractor, Cofejok Construction, to rectify the defects. We cannot turn over any projects that are found defective,” Cruz said.
Cruz, De Pedro, other local officials, and even residents took a short walk over the newly-built road but got stuck in the sticky red clay.
The agrarian reform official also postponed the turnover rites of the P7.36-million farm-to-market road in Isulan town, which was constructed by the same construction firm, upon the request of Mayor Maritess Pallasigue due to some cracks observed by the town engineering office during an ocular inspection of the 0.822-km. road connecting Barangay Mapantig proper to the national road.
He told the Cofejok Construction to conduct corrective measures, saying this directive should send a strong signal against other erring contractors.