DPWH task force vs. anomalies to release findings next month —Sec. Villar

The recently-created Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) task force that will look into alleged irregularities in the agency will release its findings "in the next month or so," Secretary Mark Villar said Thursday.

Villar said the Task Force Against Graft and Corruption (TAG) will collate reports on anomalies in the department in the next few weeks.

“I expect very soon maybe in the next month or so we should already have some sort of results, observations, findings, recommendations,” Villar said in an interview on CNN Philippines.

“So, in the very near future, we can expect that there will be some recommendations coming out of the task force,” he added.

In a Department Order dated October 17, Villar ordered the creation of the task force to be headed by DPWH Assistant Secretary Mel John Verzosa.

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

Recently, a Commission on Audit report showed that DPWH has P100 billion worth of delayed and unimplemented projects in violation of procurement law and agreed contracts.

In its 2019 annual audit report on DPWH, COA said that these delayed and unimplemented projects reached P101 billion in 2019, lower than THE 2018 figure of P118 billion.

DPWH attributed the delayed implementation of projects to the delayed release of capital outlay allotments, which only started in June 2019 due to delayed approval of 2019 national budget law.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier said corruption is an "open secret" in the implementation of public works projects, "involving not only some corrupt officials of the department but some legislators as well."

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said those occupying lower ranks in DPWH are likely to be involved in corruption.

He also vouched for Villar’s integrity, saying he does not need to steal public funds because he is already rich.  —KBK, GMA News