REVILLA TO MAYNILAD: "STOP NOW!"

After a botched up dry run today, Senate Committee on Public Works and Public Services Chairman Senator Bong Revilla reiterated his opposition to Maynilad's persistence to push through with its 5.5 kilometer pipe-laying project along Aguinaldo Highway in Bacoor, Cavite.

In a dialogue held last week between Revilla and Maynilad President Rogelio Singson, both agreed to postpone the project implementation until Maynilad conducts a successful traffic re-routing dry-run yielding satisfactory results.

In the dry-run held today, the flow of traffic along Aguinaldo Highway, the Province's gateway to and from Manila, became highly congested with traffic building up over 10 kilometers long and travel times delayed by over 4 hours. This caused frustration and anger among motorists who need to travel to Manila daily for work and commerce.

Aside from commuters who failed to come to work and those who managed to come in late to work because of the unprecedented traffic pile-up, businessmen and industry locators from the Province also expressed their apprehensions on the adverse effects the traffic situation may bring to the flow of their goods, especially if the project pushes through and goes on for the next six (6) months.

"I told them. The alternate routes being offered by Maynilad clearly cannot sustain the traffic volume. These are internal roads that will surely not be capable of carrying over 100,000 vehicles a day," Revilla said. "But they wouldn't listen. While we recognize the importance of providing safe potable water to the public, we should not set aside the adverse effects of the project's implementation on the lives of commuters and on commerce and industry in Cavite," he added. "Imbes na makabuti ito, baka makasama pa ng husto. Katatapos pa lang ng mahal na araw pero Kalbaryo pa rin ang inaabot ng mga Kabitenyo. Baka mag-alsa ang mga Kabitenyo kapag hindi ito nailagay sa ayos."

Revilla cautioned the DPWH to monitor Maynilad's plan, especially their lack of an excavation permit for the project. The lawmaker advised the DPWH to ensure that Maynilad complies with all the necessary requirements, citing a satisfactory traffic re-routing plan as one of them, before issuing a permit. "If they issue a permit despite the absence of a satisfactory traffic plan, I will hold them accountable," Revilla warned.

"In the meantime, I expect the DPWH to halt the project. Huwag na nilang hintayin na ako pa ang pumunta dun," Revilla said. "Hindi naman pupuwede na basta-basta mo na lang bubungkalin ang kalsada na hindi iniintindi ang epekto nito."