Bunkhouse furor: DPWH chief slams experts, loonies

MANILA, Philippines - Under fire for the quality of bunkhouses in disaster areas, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson hit back yesterday, saying there were a lot of people claiming to be experts, who are self-styled critics, and many more who are plain crazy: “Maraming eksperto, maraming kritiko, maraming sira ulo.”

He made the statement on GMA News TV’s “News to Go.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently came under fire for building temporary shelters in areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas that were allegedly below international standards.

“We checked with UN and they told us that there is no such thing as international standard for bunkhouses, precisely because they are temporary housing for evacuees. They will not stay there forever,” Singson said.

Each bunkhouse is divided into 24 units. But some international observers noted that the allocated area should have been wider than the designed 8.64 square meters per unit.

The DPWH had said it would modify the specifications of the shelters.

But Singson said one of the problems that he foresees is that if they construct bigger bunkhouses, evacuees would allow their extended families to live with them, resulting in yet another crowded area.

The DPWH constructed 126 bunkhouses last December and 96 more are being built.

Singson said they are doubling their efforts to finish the structures before the onset of the rainy season.

Difficult time

Meanwhile, a source told The STAR over the weekend that Singson thought of resigning from his post due to stress and media bashing.

However, a spiritual reflection and a talk with President Aquino made him decide to stay.

On the other hand, Commission on Audit Chairman Grace Pulido-Tan was ready to die in the fulfillment of duties that she accepted, the source said.