DPWH creates task force to look into alleged department anomalies

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has created a task force to look into alleged anomalies entered into by employees and officials, after state auditors flagged over P100 billion worth of delayed and unimplemented projects in 2019.

In a Department Order dated October 17, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar ordered the creation of the Task Force Against Graft and Corruption (TAG) to be headed by Assistant Secretary Mel John Verzosa.

TAG will be vice-chaired by DPWH Director Gliricidia Tumaliuan-Ali, and count as members DPWH Director Michael Villafranca, DPWH Stakeholders Relations Service officer-in-charge Andro Santiago, and Atty. Ken Edward Sta. Rita.

"The TAG shall investigate anomalies allegedly perpetrated by officials and/or employees of the Department, based on valid complaints," the order read.

"The TAG, upon observing due process, shall recommend to the Office of the Secretary, through a resolution, the appropriate action(s) to take concerning the erring official(s) and/or employees," it added.

The order also gave TAG the authority to create a Technical Working Group (TWG) that will serve as a secretariat and aid on the exercise of the TAG's functions.

In its 2019 annual audit report on DPWH, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged some P101 billion worth of delayed and unimplemented projects, the second straight year of violating the Procurement Law after some P118-billion in projects were recorded the previous year.

COA noted that the records for 2019 cover 2,411 infrastructure projects, school buildings, and farm-to-market road projects:

• P65.9-billion worth of projects unfinished or uncompleted within the specific contract time or required completion date;
• P31-billion worth of suspended projects;
• P1.44-billion worth of terminated projects; and
• P3.2-billion worth of projects which have not been started at all during the year

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday defended Villar, saying the latter has a lot of money and need not be corrupt. 

Earlier in the day, Malacañang said Villar continued to enjoy Duterte’s trust and confidence even after the Chief Executive raised the problem of corruption in the DPWH. —KG, GMA News