Impossible, says Ebdane of alleged P120 B missing funds

MANILA, Philippines – Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said yesterday allegations that some P120-billion is missing in the department’s 2007 allocation are “highly unlikely as the amount is more than the total budget of the department for that year.”

Reacting to Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel’s allegation of the missing fund, Ebdane said his department is willing to provide written documentation to address the issue.

“It is impossible because if you will look at the budget of the department for that year, it is less than P100 billion,” he said.

“We are given by the COA (Commission on Audit) 60 days to give them an answer, but first we need to conduct validation on the ground,” he added.

Ebdane, however, gave assurances that they would provide all the documentation needed but that they cannot rush it since it entails a long process.

“She (Baraquel) wants it to be submitted before the plenary next week, but we have just received the report and we have not even scrutinized it yet,” he said. “We cannot give them just the partial.”

Baraquel called for a congressional investigation into the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget as she expressed concern that about P120 billion in department funds could be missing.

Based on the 2007 COA report released last week, state auditors allegedly found funds for road projects that were diverted for the construction of private buildings and payment of employees’ salaries.

The agency recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against DPWH officials involved in the unauthorized use of the funds.

Fund allocations and releases amounting to P2.155 billion for rehabilitation of roads, construction of farm-to-market roads, acquisition of rights of way and financial assistance as indicated in the Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) were used instead for the rehabilitation of multi-purpose buildings of private cooperatives, installation and repair of road safety devices, purchase of office equipment as well as payment of maintenance and other operating expenses, wages, personnel benefits, and other purposes, the report stated.

It added that the department’s action was adverse to the provisions of the Administrative Code of 1987 that states “all monies appropriated for functions, activities, projects and programs shall be available solely for the specific purposes for which these are appropriated.” – Helen Flores