The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has relieved the head of its Camarines Sur 1st District Engineering Office following a road accident at an active construction site that injured three people and raised concerns over safety compliance.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the relief of district engineer Ramon Anselmo Calagos after a preliminary assessment found the reported absence of sufficient warning signs and traffic safety devices along a section of the Andaya Highway in Barangay Magais, Del Gallego, where the July 29 crash occurred.
Under a memorandum dated Aug. 5, Calagos was instructed to report to the DPWH-Bicol regional office for reassignment and immediately turn over all pending documents, records and government property under his custody.
Dizon said the move reflects the department’s policy of holding officials accountable whenever lapses in project implementation put the public at risk.
“I want to make two announcements. Effective yesterday, I’ve already replaced the District Engineer of the 1st District of Camarines Sur because we need to make our people accountable. We already ordered all districts and regions nationwide that we need to be very, very strict with safety standards,” he said during an inspection of flood-control works in Naga City.
The DPWH chief also warned that the contractor handling the project could face sanctions for failing to comply with mandatory safety requirements.
“Second, we will hold the contractor accountable. It is the responsibility of the contractor to put up the right safety signs, and we have a strict standard. And if that is not followed, life is the price. In some cases, life is the price, and really, it’s unacceptable. So, there needs to be someone to answer for this. So, this is without prejudice to future cases that can be filed against both the contractor and the people involved,” Dizon said.
He has also directed the department to investigate whether additional personnel should be held liable for the incident, while reiterating his order for all DPWH offices and contractors nationwide to strictly enforce road safety measures at construction sites to prevent similar accidents.