Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has relieved two district engineers in Pampanga following the death of a man who fell into a flooded open drainage canal along the Fil-Am Friendship Highway in Angeles City.
In a memorandum posted on the official Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Facebook page, Dizon relieved Pampanga 3rd District Engineering Office Officer-in-Charge District Engineer Aser S. Mallari and OIC Assistant District Engineer Augustin R. Dagsaan Jr. for their alleged failure to implement the road safety measures along the open drainage canal.
“In view of your failure to comply with the required safety standards, among other infractions, you are hereby relieved of your duties as Officers-in-charge, Office of the District Engineer and Office of the Assistant District Engineer, Pampanga 3rd District Engineering Office, effective immediately,” Dizon said in the memorandum.
Dizon also directed the two officials “to conduct an inventory, complete and sign all pending documents and deliverables, and formally turn over their responsibilities to the appropriate office“ to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of public services.
The DPWH said the move was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards in all government projects and protect the public.
“Kasunod ng direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tiyakin ang pagpapatupad ng safety at quality standards sa lahat ng proyekto upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng publiko, tiniyak ng Kalihim na mananagot ang mga opisyal ng DPWH na nagpapabaya sa tungkulin,” the agency said.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 28, when 25-year-old Reiner Novero was reportedly walking home to his temporary residence in Pampanga.
CCTV footage that circulated on social media showed Reiner walking along the sidewalk near the flooded drainage canal before suddenly falling into the open section.
He was reportedly found dead nearly an hour later, at a location some distance from where he had fallen.
Meanwhile, Reiner’s mother said the family is considering filing a case over her son’s death.
In an interview with DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan on September 1, the victim’s mother said the open drainage posed a danger to pedestrians.
She said her son appeared to be looking at the path as he walked and that there were no visible warning signs alerting pedestrians to the open drainage.
The incident has since raised concerns over the implementation of road and public safety measures along the highway.
