THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it would impose a fine on two private contractors of Globe Telecom because of unfinished road works along EDSA by the morning of April 1.
The two contractors— HGC Global Communications and RLink Corporation— had been tapped to install underground fiber optic cables along the southbound portion of EDSA.
MMDA acting chair Don Artes said the agency would issue notices of violations against the contractors for not meeting the agency’s condition to finish and clear the road works by 5 a.m. of April 1 in order not to snarl traffic along the major thoroughfare, according to a statement.
Artes said the HGC Global Communications and RLink Corporation explained that the works were not finished on time due to delays in the delivery of cement.
“However, their reason is unacceptable and unjustifiable. We will issue a notice of violation against them due to the traffic build-up earlier today brought about by their failure to finish on time,” he said.
They would be made to pay fines of P50,000 per diggings, per day, based on MMDA Regulation No. 23-001, series of 2023, the MMDA said.
Earlier, the MMDA allowed government and private construction projects to conduct round-the-clock road diggings and repairs from 11 p.m. of Wednesday, March 27, until 5 a.m. of April 1.
Artes said the public thought the road works were projects of MMDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways because the agency’s traffic cones and barriers were used on the site.
He also said the MMDA and DPWH have decided to pour cement on the open diggings so that the roads would be passable.
The MMDA is looking into the possibility of banning the two private contractors from applying for excavation permits, he said.
Meanwhile, Artes lauded the DPWH for finishing the road works on time during Holy Week, and said this is beneficial to commuters.
