Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna has granted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) an extension until November 15 to complete the necessary repairs for the Lagusnilad underpass, located just in front of Manila City Hall.
Atty. Princess Abante, Mayor Lacuna’s spokesperson, emphasized that the local government has allocated funds for the rehabilitation of Lagusnilad, which was originally the responsibility of the DPWH. However, the DPWH has not made significant progress in their efforts.
The city government of Manila allocated a substantial sum of P50 million for the project, while the DPWH’s contribution amounted to a smaller P25 million.
Abante reported that the local government has completed the rehabilitation of the portion assigned to them in September, whereas the DPWH has lagged in their responsibilities.
Mayor Lacuna has now set a final deadline of November 15 for the DPWH to complete all necessary work.
The renovation work at Lagusnilad commenced in early May with an initial target to open in September. Unfortunately, the ongoing work has led to severe traffic congestion, as the road remains impassable, forcing vehicles to seek alternative routes.
(Report by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)