VIRAC, Catanduanes—Rigged bidding has allegedly attended the controversial P682-million national road project here, according to documents obtained.
Danilo Dequito, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here, on Monday ordered an investigation into the alleged rigged bidding even as the United Katandungan Against Graft and Corruption (Ukag) said the DPWH regional office here has ignored the group’s official letter dated Aug. 22, 2011, requesting copies of bidding documents and program of works related to the case.
Ukag President Eddie Rodulfo said they are disturbed over reports that two powerful politicians in the province have allegedly demanded 5 percent and 15 percent, respectively, of the contract amount in addition to the alleged 5 percent reserved for DPWH officials.
District engineer Ignacio Odiaman said that no official complaint has reached his office regarding the alleged rigged bidding. What he heard instead, he said, were rumors warning that the contractors could not afford to give the amount without sacrificing the project. He said his office will not tolerate this. The P682 million amount of the project is a regular budget for 2011 and not a pork barrel, he said.
DPWH Bicol legal officer Oliver Rodulfo said he had officially informed through a letter the state auditor in Catanduanes DPWH who, he said, seemed to be unaware of the scandal attending the bidding, awarding, and implementing of the projects despite of his role as a bidding observer.
In his letters dated Aug. 25 and Sept. 13, 2011, to state auditor Mamerto Santelices, Rodulfo said the names of the contractor awarded P610 million of the P682-million fund was not the actual contractor in the job site, saying the actual contractors are not qualified to implement the cost of the contracts. He said his investigation and actual inspection in the field showed there was no equipment working as required. Absent were their own material testing engineers.
Rodulfo said that in his examination of the bid documents, only an equipment lease agreement was used by the awarded contractors to qualify in the bidding. Worse, these were faked and falsified, he added.
Ukag said their group conducted an inspection of the job sites, showing no equipment was posted. They said they are wary that if the alleged kickback demand pushes through, some P170.5 million would go to “the pockets of the high and the mighty” enough to build 14 kilometers of new concreted roads, or 340 units of one school room amounting to P500,000.
Odiaman said the bidding, awarding and eligibility of the contractors were done by the Pre-Bids and Awards Committee.
According to lawyer Rodulfo and confirmed by Odiaman, the awarded contractors who got the P500-million worth of contracts at P50 million each were: Hitone Construction, one contract; Legazpi Premium, five; E.R. Construction, two; Legazpi Premium in joint venture with NQA Construction, one; and Legazpi Premium in a joint venture with Tridom Construction, one.
Another contract worth P110 million was bidded out at the regional office in Legazpi and was also awarded to Legazpi Premium. Legazpi Premium and Hitone are from Legazpi City.
In his text message, Gov. Joseph Cua denied being a party in the alleged five percent pay to politicians, saying “there was politics in it.”
Rosulo Manlangit, consultant of the lone Catanduanes district Rep. Cesar Samiento said the congressman does not ask or take any bribe, saying the solon’s only wish is to pave completely the province’s circumferential route by 2014.
Sarmiento is a Liberal Party member while Cua belongs to Nacionalista Party.
The P682-million fund to build the national road was started last August in the towns of Viga, Baras, Gigmoto, Caramoran, San Andres and Panganiban.
