DPWH assailed for ‘corruption’

By Mar T. Supnad

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga- The apparent insensitivity of a number of top officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways in Regional office here who are immune from public and media criticisms will downgrade the credibility of the DPWH, tagged as one of the most corrupt national government agencies in the country.

Despite the series of negative reports printed recently in various national and regional newspapers, the DPWH Regional office continued to become mum, raising suspicion that a number of top officials in the department have received kickbacks from its anomalous construction.

This has prompted the Bataan provincial board headed by Vice Gov. Serafin Roman to pass a resolution, asking the immediate investigation on the reported anomalous construction of a bridge in Palihan, Bataan worth P146 million that was left unfinished by the DPWH and virtually abandoned by its unknown favorite contractor.

The said new unfinished bridge which was just put up on top of an existing national road in Palihan barangay, has become the source of daily monstrous traffic jam due to its deplorable condition that is almost impassable.

Roman also expressed surprise why the DPWH constructed suddenly a bridge along the road in Palihan, Hermosa town where there is no bridge to replace or river that needs a new bridge. “Nagpatayo sila ng tulay sa kalsada na wala namang ilog, ipinatong lang nila sa kalsada etong tulay, “said Roman.

“We are the one being bombarded by the public with this issue so we have to act on it,” said the visibly irked board member Gaudencio Ferrer, a native of Hermosa town.

The Bataan officials had summoned DPWH director Alfredo Tolentino but snubbed the invitation and sent instead his project engineer Edgar Bagco who could not answer the questions from the board during the hearing. Bagco instead said that they need more several millions of funds for the completion of the road but said that the cannot still complete it since there is no available fund for the right of way for the construction of a channel to ease the flooding in the area.

Bataan Peninsula Times Associate editor Ronald F. Supnad lamented that despite the series of criticisms aired against the DPWH regional officials they continued to ignore the issues and preferred to remain silent, raising suspicion that a number of them were benefited from the anomalous project. Supnad and his media group are now contemplating to file a class suit against the crooked DPWH officials in the Region.

“This irregularity might affect the credibility and presidential bid of DPWH secretary Jun Ebdane,” added Supnad