SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano called out the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for its failure to conduct sufficient consultations with stakeholders on the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) and Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) projects, leading to disruptions in the affected areas.

Cayetano raised concerns about these projects to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan through budget sponsor Senator Grace Poe during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the department on November 20.

“We asked you a thousand times, Hindi ninyo kami kinonsulta,” Cayetano said to Bonoan regarding the LLRN project.

The senator emphasized that despite the DPWH’s consultations with towns along the project’s path, no consultation has taken place with the City of Taguig, where eight kilometers of the project will be situated.

Cayetano shared how the project has worsened traffic congestion in parts of the city due to insufficient coordination with the city’s officials.

“Thirty minutes for less than one kilometer [ang traffic]. Hindi pa todo rush hour iyon kaya sabi ko kay Secretary, may problema tayo roon at baka kailangan ninyo na maglagay ng flyover,” he said.

Proving his point on poor planning, Cayetano highlighted the issue regarding the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) compound in Taguig, where constructing a flyover to alleviate traffic congestion is deemed unfeasible.

“Yung DOST hindi basta pumapayag sa flyover kasi may mga equipment sila roon na kapag nag-she-shake ay naaapektuhan kaya hindi sila pumayag,” he said.

Turning to the PAREX project, a proposed highway over the Pasig River, Cayetano questioned whether it was being planned thoroughly to avoid the pitfalls of the LLRN project.

“Many urban planners have posted that in (South) Korea pinatatanggal pa nila ang mga highway sa ibabaw ng river, so tayo bakit pa natin papatungan y’ung Pasig River?” he said.

Cayetano said he will also raise the issue with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the lead agency for the PAREX project.

While the senator is not completely against these projects, he emphasized the importance of proper and sufficient consultations with all stakeholders for future DPWH projects rather than mere bureaucratic box-ticking.

“Ang ginawa ng mga tao ninyo, pa-appointment nang pa-appointment, nagtatambak ng mga dokumento, pero walang tunay na consultation,” he said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas