MARCOS VOWS TO ELIMINATE CORRUPTION AT PUBLIC WORKS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday vowed to work towards eliminating corruption in public works projects, as this not only results in problematic infrastructure but also economic losses directly affecting ordinary Filipinos.

“If there’s one thing, I will not leave this office until I fix this,” President Marcos said during his visit to Tuba, Benguet where he inspected failed multi-million peso rock shed and rock netting projects both along Kennon Road in Barangay Camp 4.

President Marcos said repairing the damaged P264 million rock shed project has already dealt a 35 percent loss to the local economy, while repairs may cost the government at least P500 million.

President Marcos ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reinstitute the standard operating procedure (SOP) of getting the acceptance of local government units (LGUs) before declaring a public works project as complete, in order to prevent corruption and ensure quality projects.

“Tinanggal ‘yung SOP na ‘yun. The SOP is that before you release the project to the local government, kailangan tanggapin ng local government. And that’s something that we will reinstitute. Iyon ang ibabalik natin,” the President said.

“Bakit nila tatanggalin? Hindi puwede ‘yun. Kasi kung hindi tanggap ng local government, maliwanag na may problema ‘yan,” added the President.

“That’s why that acceptance is so important,” President Marcos said, citing his experience as former governor of Ilocos Norte.

On the other hand, the rock netting project in Purok Maramal, Sitio Camp 5 in Barangay Camp 4 was meant to protect motorists from minor landslides and rockfalls along Kennon Road, one of the main thoroughfares leading to and from the regional center, Baguio City.

President Marcos pointed out that rock netting projects were already banned due to their vulnerability to corruption.

“Because napaka-notorious ng rock netting sa korupsyon, ipinagbawal na ang rock netting. Pero ginawa pa rin. Ipinagbawal na ‘yan eh pero ginawa nang ginawa pa rin,” the President said.

Citing information from the supplier, President Marcos said the mesh used for rock netting only costs P3,200 each, but the mesh used for the project he inspected cost the government P12,000 each.

“So, times four, times four. So, 75 percent ng kontrata kinickback (kickback),” the President said.

The rock netting project covered 3,479 square meters of slope with 3-millimeter high tensile wire mesh with a green mat for erosion control.

The project, carried out from April 24, 2018 to June 15, 2019, had a contract price of P114.177 million and was awarded to 3K Rock Engineering, the same contractor for the rock shed project.

Some parts of the mesh were observed to be either damaged or not in good condition.

“Those are the things we have to correct. Over the years, these abuses only came about kasi pinalitan ang sistema and dinadaya talaga,” said President Marcos.