‘No bribes for DPWH inspectors, just free meals, accommodations’

No bribes, just free meals and accommodations.

So claimed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in a letter it sent Malacañang this week, denying a complaint that its road condition inspectors have been receiving money in exchange for favorable assessments.

"May we also inform you that the initial reports/comments received from our regional offices categorically denied the existence of any ‘payoff.’ However, it was admitted that meals and accommodations are provided the inspectors as a gesture of hospitality and not as a form of ‘payoff,’" stated the two-page letter signed by Public Works and Highways Secretary Simeon Datumanong.

Although the letter was dated June 10, 2002, sources at the DPWH’s Bureau of Maintenance (BOM) said it was only sent to Bobby Dumlao, director of the Presidential Action Center, only this week.

"I believe this is the handiwork of some disgusted engineers who were given low marks," DPWH-BOM director Luisito Vizorde told The STAR.

The bureau is in charge of rating the quality of completed road projects nationwide. The same rating scheme is being used in selecting the department’s outstanding district engineers yearly.

An unsigned letter dated Oct. 21, 2001 complained about the alleged payoffs to road condition inspectors. It was sent to Malacañang which, in turn, forwarded it to DPWH last March 7 for action.

The letter, reportedly coming from Cebu, also sought the repeal of Department Order 31, series of 2000 which outlines the sanctions for poor maintenance of national roads and bridges.

The order was issued purportedly to "improve the performance" of regional and district technical personnel.

The complaint-letter, however, noted that the DPWH has long instituted "precautionary measures" to deter the commission of anomalies, particularly in the rating of road projects.

In response to the complaint, all DPWH district engineers were reportedly told "to refrain from giving and/or receiving monetary considerations or otherwise, relative to the conduct of the road condition rating."

In its letter to Malacañang, the DPWH also gave assurance that it will conduct "utmost vigilance" and take action against erring personnel. The DPWH has 212 district engineers.