Contractors of road projects in the province of Iloilo need to abide by the requirement of putting up proper and visible road signs to prevent accidents, Iloilo Vice Governor Christine Garin said during the Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (Provincial Board) regular session on Tuesday afternoon.

This was raised by Garin after seeing an accident in Lanutan village, Miagao town last week wherein a motorcycle with two passengers appeared to have plowed through a stockpile of construction debris.

The terms and conditions the contractor should abide by are stated in the contract, such as the provision of warning and safety signs, and coordination with the local government unit for traffic management and safety, she said.

“But as we see throughout the province, most contractors do not properly abide by this contractual obligation. This is clearly criminal negligence as it puts the lives of our people in danger, every day, as the people travel and pass by the numerous ongoing constructions and road repairs,” Garin said.

In August last year, she said, the Provincial Board had passed a resolution urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6 (Western Visayas) to “closely monitor the implementation of road infrastructure projects, facilitate and maintain alternate routes and roads, coordinate with local officials for traffic management, and compel contractors to strictly observe their timelines and deliverables, particularly the installation of reflectorized signage with the end that is safety, comfort, and convenience of our people secures.”

While the resolution is already in place, Garin said road accidents prevail because some signage is too small, placed a few meters before the construction site, or not reflectorized in a dimly-lit construction area.

“It is the responsibility of the government through the DPWH to check the compliance of contractors whether or not the specified guidelines for safety and traffic are complied with,” she said, adding that the province should make a move and not wait for more accidents to happen.

Based on the data of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, 485 road crash accidents were recorded due to lack of road signage on constructed national highways from January 2018 to the present.

Garin said DPWH-6 would be invited in the next session to help address the concern.(PNA)