I KNOW how it works. I managed community projects with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), International Union for Conservation of Nature-Netherlands (IUCN-Nl), and the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation.
These organizations required us to submit proposals with defined goals and timelines, using S.M.A.R.T. goals in the project design. That means the funder is assured that the project will not be paswer (local slang for paswerte) but specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound.
Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities – especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, or productivity.
Nothing is left to chance. Project planning 101 connotes intentional changes of the environment. Also called forethought, it’s the process of thinking about and organizing the activities required to achieve a desired goal with corresponding timelines.
Do we see that in major public investment projects around Bacolod? I don’t think so. Am I being palagpat (whistling in the dark)?
Take that P1.1-billion bulk water supply project for Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa). According to Baciwa assistant general manager for operations Engr. Jenelyn Gemora, the contractor is expected to deliver water to consumers between July and August. In fact, Gemora reported that the project was already 65 percent complete in May 2017.
Instead, contractor Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. chair Ryan Yapkianwee promised Bacoleños that their consortium can deliver water not in August but by October 12. I assume that he means October 2017.
By this time, water consumers should expect water flowing from their faucets. Instead, we in Alijis are suffering longer water shortages.
Despite the flooding that we experienced last week – when the aquifer has been replenished – we get only seven hours of running water (11 p.m. to 6 a.m.), compared to 12 hours a few months ago.
Then we get another paswer public works project. Last week, Superintendent Luisito Acebuche, chief of Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) requested a one-way traffic scheme long Gatuslao Sreet. DPWH aims to finish the drainage construction before the MassKara Festival by October.
October 1 will be this Sunday, the start of Masskara. Almost daily, I report for mediation duties at the Hall of Justice. Judging from the pace of destruction, there is no way DPWH can meet its goals.
Are we the public going to expect more changes in their contract timelines? And more inconveniences for the public?
(bqsanc@yahoo.com)
