ACTING Chairman Thomas Orbos of the Metro Manila Development Authority said on Monday they are considering filing a case against D.M. Consunji Inc. for the unauthorized demolition work that caused monstrous traffic on major roads leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
DMCI is the contractor of two ongoing major projects—Skyway Stage 3 and Naia elevated expressway projects. Both projects are affecting the traffic flow in the southern part of Metro Manila.
“We’ll write them first for them to explain, if need be, seek legal remedy. We don’t know from where or whom they asked for permission, but the mere fact that they caused a lot of inconvenience, we will not just let it go,” said Orbos.
Orbos said the contractor made the demolition despite knowing there will be an influx of passengers going to the airport for a long weekend holiday break in connection with the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
He added the contractor failed to coordinate with the Interagency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) nor the MMDA about the road works. “We will write formally to inquire and send the letter by Wednesday,” he said.
On Friday, passengers experienced monstrous traffic going to Naia Terminal 3 because, according to the Department of Transportation, the DMCI made the unauthorized demolition of the existing Skyway ramp of the NAIA expressway.
“It was bad timing especially that it was a long weekend and people are trooping to the provinces for the Undas to honor their dead love ones,” said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Tugade directed the I-ACT to call the attention of Skyway management and asked to immediately suspend the works in the ramp which was causing congestion due to the influx of airline passengers in Naia.
Thus, the contractor, immediately stopped the demolition works, but one lane has already become impassable.
Engineer Alec Cruz, head of tollways operation of Skyway, went to the site and verified the situation and checked whether it was possible to open another ramp to alleviate the pressure on the one that they closed.
Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corp. president Manny Bonoan announced later that the Naia expressway Ramp 1 was temporarily opened to relieve the Terminal 3 and Andrews Avenue of traffic congestion. This is an additional access to the elevated section towards the City of Makati and southbound areas like Alabang in Muntinlupa City.
Skyway traffic patrollers were also deployed in the Terminal 3.
The government is expecting worst traffic in Metro Manila, especially in the southern part, because of the delay in the construction of Skyway Stage 3 and Naia Expressway.
The contractor is supposed to finish the Naia expressway in time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting last year.
The cause of delay was due to the road right-of-way and drainage system problems, and massive flooding in the area of Sucat and Airport roads.
The Skyway 3, on the other hand, is supposed to be finished by December 2017 but because of the delay, the project will be completed by April 2018. Powerlines and water utility problems in the areas caused the delay.
The MMDA said both Naia Expressway and Skyway 3 projects are included in the list of government’s long- term solution to the worsening traffic problem in Metro Manila.
The government came up with these projects based on the recommendation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in its comprehensive study “Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas.”
The P26.7 billion Skyway Stage 3 project is a 14.8-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway that will connect the end of the Skyway in Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia), Makati City to Balintawak in Quezon City.
Once completed, the project will link the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and will have eight access points over Gil Puyat, Quirino, Nagtahan, Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez, Quezon Avenue, Sgt. Rivera and Balintawak.
The P15-billion Naia Expressway project, on the other hand, will provide access to Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3 as well as linking the Skyway in South Expressway and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.
This project aimed to provide better access to Naia and Entertainment City in Paranaque, connect to the Skyway network of Metro Manila, reduce traffic congestion of roads in the vicinity of the airport terminals, and improve international and domestic investment environment for faster economic development.