Engr. Espiritu visits a day after elections; reveals future developments

The city engineer, Boy Espiritu, visited Twinville for more than an hour after city hall's flag raising ceremonies last Nov. 24, Monday.

Espiritu met with incoming president Paul Sison and current vice-president Allan Lumbo at the subdivision's open space where the chapel and multipurpose gym are located. THAI president Mar Ayala also dropped by for awhile.

Espiritu was invited by Sison for an ocular related to THAI's request that the THAI office, which is being sponsored by Cong. Del De Guzman, be erected by the roadside along Camia St. instead of by the river at the back of the covered court.

The THAI office can serve the residents better if it is located at the front --- spanning 2 bays of the covered court --- along Camia Street where it will be highly visible and easily accessible. Like Chairman BF, we want to show the people that "government works." In this case, the homeowners association represents government --- and we intend to replicate BF's governance style in handling day-to-day affairs of Twinville.

Offhand, he expressed doubts about the request being granted but encouraged Sison to still talk to the mayor about it. Meanwhile, he suggested 2 alternative sites for the office.

Espiritu also revealed plans of the city government to convert the parcel of land directly across the river into an ecopark once the portion of the river behind Twinville's open space has been diverted to straighten the flow of the river. If the ecopark pushes thru, Twinville residents will be very fortunate to live just right beside such an ecotourism development.

"Nag-meeting lang kami ng World Bank last Wednesday para sa funding ng road dike," said Espiritu, adding that, "matagal na nating project yan pero ngayon pa lang matutuloy."

The road dike project will run along the river from Nangka to Tumana, then all the way to the town proper. It will double as a flood control mechanism to protect the settlement sites and other riverside subdivisions like Twinville from perennial flooding.

Sison and Lumbo also mentioned the ff. concerns related to engineering to Espiritu who indicated awareness about Twinville's present condition:

1. drainage problem at the corner of Rosas and Milflores St.;
   
2. drainage problem at Daisy St.;
   
3. the potholes along Everlasting St. caused by a subcontractor who mistakenly dug it up more than 2 years ago thinking it was still part of Fairlane;
   
4. the Manila Water diggings left uncemented after installing pipes that crossed Camia Street; and
   
5. the clearing of empty lots for the Adopt-A-Vacant Lot project.
   

Espiritu noted all of our concerns and said it was all a matter of scheduling. 

"Tatawagan ko agad ang Manila Water para balikan nila ito," said Espiritu pointing to the damaged strips crossing Camia.

He also encouraged Sison to include the asphalt overlay for Everlasting and Camia streets among our requests when the latter meets with Mayor MCF on Friday, Nov. 28. (PS)