Who took kickbacks for P5.2 billion Cordillera road works? Corruption blamed for substandard projects

By Dexter A. See and Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Corruption among government officials and project implementors was blamed for substandard roads and other infrastructure projects in the Cordillera during a regional summit here to address the problem.

Participants said payment of road rights of way, lack of consultation and transparency were major issues that needed to be addressed during the recent State of the Nation Address projects summit.

Local officials and construction industry stakeholders in the Cordillera also expressed doubts that the multi-billion-peso SONA projects will be completed before the deadline set by President Arroyo despite availability of funds.

The Catholic-based Social Action Development Center described the substandard work on the Bontoc-Banaue section of the Halsema Highway an example of "engineering monstrosity" saying the project has become a source of questionable income of some "enterprising individuals" who managed the illegal quarry sites.

The national government allotted P5.2 billion in the last three years for the rehabilitation and upgrading of vital roads in the Cordillera, particularly Phases II and III of the Halsema Highway rehabilitation project, the Mount Data-to-Bontoc and the Bontoc-to-Banaue sections, and the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road.

Also at the summit, concerned sectors criticized the creation of the Project Monitoring Office to monitor implementation of SONA projects.

They said this is an admission that regional DPWH officials are not efficient in handling the implementation of the projects.

Earlier, contractors branded the new regional Project Monitoring Office as an added layer of bureaucracy which can further delay the implementation of the projects.

The mayors, speaking at the summit, asked the contractors, especially those "who undermined the bidding process to get the juicy contracts," to hire residents to ensure fast completion of the infrastructure facilities.

One of the reasons cited for the substandard quality of SONA projects was that winning contractors submitted bids lower than approved agency estimates to ensure that only two contractors, who are said to be acquaintances of a Cordillera lawmaker and officials of the DPWH central office, would emerge the complying bidders.

During her Yuletide break in Baguio City, the President directed all project implementors to ensure that her SoNA projects in the region will be completed by the end of this year or during the first quarter of next year.

This would enable her to inaugurate the projects before she steps down from office in 2010.

During the summit, Roy Manao, Cordillera DPWH officer-in-charge who traces his roots from Natonin and Bontoc towns in the province said his office shall pay property owners before any project shall be undertaken with the supervision of Benguet district engineer Alexander Castaneda who is specially designated to head the Project Management Office of SONA projects.

Bontoc mayor Franklin Odsey proposed that DPWH personnel coordinate with barangay officials and also consult property owners before implementing any project.

Corruption was a major issue which cropped up during the summit attended by delegates from non government organizations including the Social Action Development Center, Bantay Lansangan, and Bontoc Women’s Brigade.

Engineer Pedro Pis-o of Bantay Lansangan pointed out the role of media in monitoring and informing people on the state of SONA projects.

He said Bantay Lansangan shall forward its findings on SONA road project implementation to the office of the newly appointed DPWH regional director.

Anti-corruption advocate Juniper Dominguez of Volunteers against Corruption said there was need for quality work on the SONA projects saying the corrupted state of the earlier SONA projects along the Halsema Highway led to the disadvantage of the public.

Allegations of corruption along the Halsema highway projects led to investigation and consequent findings of sub-standard projects.

Dominguez asked the newly reconstructed regional DPWH office on their action on contractors with sub-standard performance.

Manao said his office shall strictly monitor implementation of projects by accredited contractors and deploy the presence of engineers in every project site.

Manao also urged the signing of a “covenant of commitment” among different sectors with the DPWH to jointly monitor and help in the implementation of SONA projects and fight corruption.

Caretaker congressman for Mountain Province Manuel Agyao also urged the public especially the religious, non-government organizations and the media to help monitor the implementation of the favored programs of President Arroyo in the region.

One perceived reason for sub-standard projects was due to alleged kickbacks and commissions received by government officials.

Agyao in a separate interview said his office will try to “stop” the vicious practice.Fr Valentin Dimoc, Chairman of SADC said he hoped officials will faithfully do their job for the common good and break the barriers of “engineering stupidity”.

Others present during the summit were DPWH assistant regional director Nerie Bueno, Mountain Province Gov. Maximo Dalog, Agyao, Presidential Assistant on Cordillera Affairs Tom Killip, Bishop Rodolfo Beltran, municipal mayors and board members.

The Halsema Highway covers 180 km starting in La Trinidad to Bontoc extending to Banaue, Ifugao.

The first section starts in La Trinidad to Mt Data, Bauko spanning 84 km completed in March 2006 with a P1 billion budget. Mt Data to Bontoc with 51 km has a P1 billion budget and 31% completion status.

Bontoc to Banaue with 45 km has an P864 million budget and 26% completion status as of this year.

The SONA projects for Halsema Highway are targeted to be done by December.

Meantime, the 108 km Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road with 17% completion rate and a P3.2 billion budget is projected to be finished by April 2010.

Also, the 29.5 km Bontoc-Tinglayan road with a 12% status rate is projected to be done by April 2010. So with the Tinglayan boundary – Lubuagan-Tabuk section of 78 km costing P2.3 billion.

The Bontoc-Tinglayan road project is projected to be finished by April 2010.