DPWH welcomes probe on 'road to nowhere'

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said that it is ready to face any investigation panel that was tasked to probe the controversial C-5 project. “It’s okay if they want to conduct a probe for us to clear up any confusion regarding the alleged double appropriations," senior undersecretary Manuel Bonoan said Wednesday. He explained that there are two appropriations for the project under similar entries, both of which were allotted P200 million in the General Appropriations Act of 2008 and GAA 2008 under Urgent Infrastructure Including Local Projects. He explained that this was because it was actually one road project with two separate components. The two items are components of one big project, the Alignment of the C-5 Road under the Arroyo administration which aims to connect the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to the SLEX and to the Coastal Road in Las Pinas. Bonoan added that they are now preparing a status report on the project to outline its progress but this should not be construed as an explanation letter to solons calling for an investigation of the matter. Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday said that officials behind the two P200-million appropriations for a stretch of road linking Parañaque City to South Luzon Expressway should be charged. Lacson said this after finding out that government allotted P200 million twice for a single infrastructure project. For his part, Bonoan said that the construction of the PCGAE flyover started in the first quarter of the year and expecting the completion of the project by 2009. The roadway component, on the other hand is set to start next year. Edilberto Tayao, the DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) assistant regional director for construction operations, earlier said that Sen. Panfilo Lacson may have been confused by similar project titles and identical budgets but assured that there were no anomalies afoot. The C-5 Road is also known as Carlos P. Garcia Avenue Extension. The PCGAE is a 300-meter stretch four lane flyover to be constructed in front of the SM shopping mall along Sucat Paranaque, while the C-5 Road Extension, is an 800-meter in length six-lane roadway in Las Pinas City. On Tuesday, Malacanang ordered an investigation into the controversial project and assured that such irregularities should not slip past the Budget department’s diligence. - GMANews.TV