More raps vs. DPWH execs

CEBU, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales yesterday ordered the filing of graft charges against 11 officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 7 for their alleged involvement in another P35-million lamppost scam in Cebu.

Those ordered indicted before the Sandiganbayan were DPWH regional director Robert Lala; assistant regional director Gloria Dindin; assistant regional director and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairperson Marlina Alvizo; and maintenance division OIC-chief Pureza Fernandez.

Also included as respondents were BAC members Cresencio Bagolor, Agustinito Hermoso, Luis Galang and Restituto Diano; Technical Working Group (TWG) members Ayaon Manggis, Marilyn Ojeda, and Teresa Bernido; and private respondent Gerardo Surla.

Some of those being charged now are the same DPWH officials already being tried for another alleged scam in the purchase of Cebu lampposts worth P365 million in 2006, along with two mayors and a number of local government officials.

Former ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez ordered the filing of the case in May 2009.

In this latest case, the Ombudsman said the DPWH officials should also be held liable for the questionable and overpriced purchase of street-lighting equipment and supplies for Lapu-Lapu City in March 2007.

The contract was covered by four projects which involved the supply and installation of testing and commissioning of LED bulbs, traffic signal lantern and other traffic control devices at the junctions M.L. Quezon Avenue and Terminal building access road and the M.L. Quezon and Patalinghug avenues, and the supply and installation of street-lighting facilities along the Punta Engaño road network.

The same transaction also covered the supply and installation of street-lighting facilities like decorative lamps along Patalinghug and Patalinghug avenues.

Records show that the contract, costing P35,634,401.25, was signed between Dindin and Surla, board chairman of Gampik Construction and Development Inc.

In awarding the contract to Gampik, the DPWH officials allegedly resorted to negotiated bidding and not competitive bidding in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, the contract price for the project was overpriced by P12,629,816 as against the anti-graft agency’s computation of only P23,004,584.

Morales said the respondents violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Commission on Audit Circular No. 85-55A, which only allows a 10 percent price variance in project costs.

Removal of lampposts

The Commission on Audit has released its inventory report on the controversial ASEAN lampposts that the Cebu City Government wants to be removed from the city streets.

This report shall be used by the city government to support their request before the Office of the Special Prosecutor to remove the lampposts that have become an eyesore and obstruction in the sidewalks.

City Traffic and Operations Management (CITOM) Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap said they will submit the report to the office of the Special Prosecutor soon where their petition to remove the lampposts will be decided.

Yap said they hope to remove the lampposts before the year ends.

In its report, COA certified that all 677 existing lampposts are in poor condition and non-operational. There were supposed to be a total of 685 lampposts along the streets of S. Osmeña Boulevard, Juan Luna Avenue (now Pope John Paul II Ave.), Salinas Drive and Veterans Drive but eight are already missing.

CITOM officials earlier said the missing lampposts might have been lost to thieves.

Of the 677 lampposts physically present, 137 no longer have heads and hold.

All 677 lampposts are non-functional because electric wiring and accessories were either gone or defective.

This inventory was conducted by COA along with the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas and CITOM in October last year for the purpose of determining the physical existence and actual conditions of the controversial properties.

These lampposts were part of the beautification program for the 12th ASEAN Summit in 2007, but became controversial after their purchase was found irregular.

There were 1,800 overpriced lampposts purchased for the ASEAN summit that were installed in Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu city. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)