THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District 2 last Friday, July 4, assured the public that it will begin work on the deteriorating roads beneath the Puerto overpass in Cagayan de Oro City, which have become riddled with deep potholes causing heavy traffic for commuters.

During a town hall meeting in Nazareth, District Engineer Jan Paulo Lisondra acknowledged the worsening condition of the road.

“Kanang ubos sa Puerto, admittedly nagka lubak-lubak gyud na siya, kay through time karaan nanang dalan diha, nipis na kaayo siya,” Lisondra said.

He explained that the road is already old and worn out.

However, he also noted that 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has allocated funding to address the issue.

PROMISE. District Engineer Jan Paulo Lisondra of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – District 2 discusses plans to asphalt the damaged section of Puerto road, particularly beneath the flyover, during a town hall meeting last Friday, July 4. The area has become a traffic bottleneck due to deep potholes. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

Lisondra said that coordination with the city’s Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) is already underway to ensure smooth implementation of the repair project. So far, DPWH is working to smooth out the road surface as an initial solution.

“This is not yet the final fix,” Lisondra said, adding that the current works are just “first aid,” since trucks are not allowed to pass through the flyover due to safety concerns.

He explained that heavy trucks cause vibrations that may compromise the integrity of the flyover, and the agency does not want to risk the safety of commuters.

To avoid further traffic congestion, the road work will be done in alternating sections, Lisondra added. Once the surface is leveled, they will proceed with asphalting.

“Kanang atbang sa Gaisano, amo pud nang sementohon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Engineer Anna Hallasgo reported that roadwork on the Bantiles section in Bugo, which leads to Cagayan de Oro, has been suspended due to an electrical issue.

“Naay line sa kuryente nga kinahanglan nato itransfer,” she explained, but assured the public that they are working to resolve it quickly.

Lisondra appealed for continued patience from commuters, noting that asphalting cannot be immediately implemented due to the traffic situation in Puerto, which serves as a major gateway for travelers heading to Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.