P52.7 M Bontoc water system project probed

By Desiree Sokoken

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Department off Public Works and Highways is now investigating an unfinished P52.7 million water project which should have eased water shortage of this capital town.

Acting on request of Mayor Franklin Odsey, the DPWH Central Office sent two representatives from its Internal Audit Service (IAS) to investigate the long delayed completion of the  Bontoc water system project shat started in 2005 and set for completion in 2008.

On June 18, engineer Bernadeth Betsy Uy and Remedios Arellano of the DPWH-IAS inspected different phases of the project together with Odsey and Mountain Province Assistant District Engineer Charles Sokoken.

The probe was in response to letter-request of Odsey and resolution of the Sangguniang Bayan sent to DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to re-evaluate the completed phases and turn over the implementation of the uncompleted ones to the Bontoc Local Government Unit.

Awarded to Manila-based contractor AquaterraKonstrukt, the project should have installed a pipe water system for the four central barangays of Bontoc to be sourced from Barangay Bayyo.

It consisted of six phases, but only three were completed.

The sixth phase, which covers the installation of pipes to the main source in Mt. Tatamang in Bayyo, was terminated in 2010 because of strong opposition from Bayyo residents.

The latter feared that the project might result in the depletion of their source of irrigation.

The pipes were then re-routed to a water source in Baybay, Talubin, after a successful negotiation with Talubin residents.

Odsey said that the time is ripe for an investigation into the project, as its completion would bring relief to the residents of the four central barangays.

It would be an additional water source, thus assuring an ample supply to consumers. 

According to Sokoken, main pipes from the reservoir in Pagturao in Bontoc Ili to the intake tank in Baybay have all  been laid out.

However, some fixtures necessary before a hydro test can be conducted have not yet been installed by the contractor.

Of the 52.7 million allotted for the project, there is a balance of 11 million. But according to the DPWH-IAS representatives, there is a need to establish that this balance still exists.

“Part of our probe is to get our hands into the documents showing the payments that were made to the contractor. This will help us determine the amount to be turned over to the Bontoc LGU, should Sec. Singson decide that such is the proper course of action,” Uy said.

Odsey said he hoped for a speedy resolution of the matter, since putting an end to the water problem in Bontoc is one of the priorities of his administration.