DPWH asks DOJ to examine 19 flood-control contracts

(Updated 1:55 p.m.) The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has sought the help of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in investigating 19 “questionable" flood control deals. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, in an interview on dwIZ radio, said the officials involved in the contracts have five working days to submit an explanation, based on standard operating procedures. "Yung pinakamahina diyan suspension. Kung tingin namin malakas, naghingi ako ng tulong sa DOJ. kung malakas we will bring it all the way to the Ombudsman (The lightest sanction they will get is a suspension. I have asked the DOJ to help investigate the case. If the evidence against them is strong, we will haul them all the way to the Ombudsman)," Singson said. But at a press conference in Manila, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Singson only asked her department for prosecutors who could zero in on the allegedly anomalous contracts. "So far, there is just a request that we assign lawyers to his (Singson's) department to pursue the investigation. The prosecutors can help in the building up of cases," De Lima. De Lima added she is already consulting with her undersecretaries to determine the mechanics in "detailing" prosecutors to the DPWH. 'Competitive' public bidding Singson disclosed that the 19 deals will not be renegotiated. The flood control projects will instead be put up for "competitive" public bidding. Singson added that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding the affected projects, appeared to be open to the re-bidding of the contracts. "Kinausap ko ang JICA, sabi ko kailangan natin pondong yan, kailangan natin ilabas yan. Sabi lang pwedeng hindi i-negotiate ang contracts na ito, we will go through competitive public bidding at sumangayon naman sila (I talked to JICA. I said we need the funds and the projects. But we cannot have negotiated contracts. I said we will go through competitive public bidding and they agreed)," he said. Open to congressional inquiry Singson also said the DPWH will welcome an investigation by Congress on the matter. "Of course, of course we would welcome an investigation by Congress para maiayos ang loopholes at masyadong maluwag ang mga proseso (to fix the loopholes in the process)," he said. The DPWH earlier bared 19 questionable flood-control projects amounting to P934 million, approved two weeks before former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stepped down on June 30. Singson said the contracts were signed June 18 and the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) came June 25. Of the 19 projects, three contractors have clinched more than one project: Northern Builders, L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc. and Tokwing Construction. Northern Builders, for example, acquired four projects amounting to P375 million, or more than a third of the total cost of all the projects in question. L.R. Tiqui Builder Inc. meanwhile had three projects, while Towking Construction had two. The 19 canceled projects are: 1. La Trinidad, Bokod, Itogonon and Bugilas, Benguet Sabangan, Mt. Province and Tabuk, Kalinga worth P53,065,412.74 under contract with Ferdstar Builders Contractors 2. Ilocos Norte; P35,111,912.02; A. De Guia Construction 3. Sitio Departe Barangay Bantog, Asingan, Pangasinan; P91,493,729.45; Tokwing Construction 4. Sitio Bato, Barangay San Vicente, San Manuel, Pangasinan; P228,749,682.31; Northern Builders 5. Camalaniogan and Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan; P25,845,331.01; M.M. Construction 6. Paitan Section Bay and Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; P68,617,154.18; Royal Crown Monarch Construction and Supply 7. Sta. Fe, Kayapa and Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya; P27,416,017.95; Christian Ian Construction Corp. 8. Paombong and San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan; P9,139,201.72; P.O.N. Construction 9. Province of Bulacan; P41,114,825,65; Northern Builders 10. San Felipe and Iba, Zambales; P42,542,444.58; Tokwing Construction 11. San Marcelino, Zambales; P19,195,055.26; Arrowhead Construction 12. Arayat, Pampanga; P77,315,428.96; L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. 13. Candaba, Pampanga; P78,714,659.59; Northern Builders 14. Barangay Bodega Section, Floridablanca, Pampanga; P27,447,484.14; Northern Builders 15. Guagua and Lubao, Pampanga; P16,451,747.20; L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. 16. Moncada and Bamban, Tarlac; P32,015,365.91; R.A. Pahati Gravel and Sand and LSD Construction and Supplies 17. Aliaga, Nueva Ecija; P18,292,974.84; L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc. 18. Bungabon and San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija; P19,191,123.52; Royal Crown Monarch Construction and Supply 19. Balayan and Lemery, Batangas; P22,388,000; A.D. Construction Singson said the projects were among the anomalous transactions involving 86 contracts worth P3.5 billion funded by a loan from JICA. – with Sophia Dedace/VVP/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV