Probe pushed on P2.5-B Mt Province rock-netting

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Instead of allotting P2.5 billion public funds for rock-netting projects better reprogram this amount for services that people need.
    Petitioners Peter Chumawin Jr and engineer Medel Flores of the Upland Lowland Monitoring Movement and Juniper Dominguez of Pro-Volunteers Against Corruption wrote Chairman Jose Calida of the Commission on Audit and Sec. Manuel Bonoan of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways to investigate and reprogram the P2.5 billion rock-netting projects programmed along Junction Talubin-Barlig- Natonin-Paracelis of Mountain Province.  
Petitioners called on Calida and Bonoan to suspend four projects along the junction Talubin- Barlig- Natonin-Paracelis as “there are gaps to be widened, concreted and improved to attain a safe and reliable road system.”
The P2.5 billion rock-netting projects are meant to attain a “safe and reliable national road system”.  
    Petitioner Dominguez noted an old engineering method called shotcreting was proven to be effective and long lasting along along Naguilian Road, Marcos Highway and Halsema Highway “compared to modified and corrupted rock-netting projects   which collapsed halfway during implementation or just after completion.”
    “Such spending of government funds manifests clear indifference to people’s priority needs”, petitioners stated in their complaint.
    Instead of rock-netting, petitioners cited widening and concreting of gaps from Junction Talubin-Barlig- Natonin- Paracelis, restoration of all road cuts, repair of numerous damage road pavements, and construction of concrete barriers in all dangerous curves along said route.
    “There was no factual and actual sight survey to ascertain what is needed in this road section”, the petitioners noted.
    Instead, construction of farm to market roads, powered deep well irrigation systems, solar powered deep well potable water systems and solar powered lamps apart from the building of Barlig emergency hospital was forwarded by petitioners.  
    In a separate letter to DBM Secretary Tina Rose Canda, Bishop Valentin Dimoc of Bontoc-Lagawe Development and Social Action Center said high impact projects as integrated irrigation projects in Paracelis, community potable water systems, barangay farm to market roads, and support infrastructure and medical equipment for hospitals was identified.     
    “I hope these development perspectives and proposals are considered in order to help people recover economically from the impact of the pandemic,” Bishop Dimoc said.
    Petitioners Chumawin, Flores and Dominguez also alleged that the project won by Phesco Inc was fixed and simulated over the losing bidder EGB Construction/Cabugiasan Builders (JV). Bidder EGB Construction/Cabugiasan Builders filed a motion for reconsideration for being disqualified.
    Said petitioner letter was also forwarded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, committee chairman on public works Sen. Bong Revilla, finance committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara, Sen. Francis Tolentino of the Senate blue ribbon committee, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta of Party List SAGIP, DWPH Undersecretary Maximo Carvajal, DPWH regional director Khadaffy Tanngol and COA regional director Cecilia Ancheta.