More money needed to finish Guadalupe bridge under Arroyo program, says Aklan engineer

Additional funds are needed to fix the Guadalupe bridge in Banga, Aklan, built under the President's Bridge Program during the Arroyo administration, which is now the subject of a Senate blue ribbon committee investigation.   "In normal conditions naman, madadaanan talaga siya," Aklan provincial engineer Edelzon Magalit said in an interview with GMA News Online Tuesday. "Kapag bumabaha, hindi talaga madadaanan."   "Isa hanggang dalawang araw lang naman hindi madadaanan," he added.   In his privilege speech during last Monday's hearing, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III showed a picture of the Guadalupe bridge that was incomplete – only a third of the bridge was constructed.   “They built the bridge hanggang sa gitna ng tubig,” the senator noted. “I have never seen such a waste of money." _{^{Bridge to nowhere... This is supposedly a picture of the unfinished Guadalupe bridge in Aklan, when it was being built under the President's  Bridge Program during the Arroyo administration. Although eventually finished, the bridge gets flooded during the rainy season when the rains are really heavy, accordign to a local official. (Photo courtesy of the office of Sen. Sergio Osmeña III)}} According to Magalit, the President's Bridge Program only provided the materials – such as steel – to build the bridge. The local government shouldered the road construction.   "Malaking tulong na po iyon sa amin," he said. "'Yung importante, mayroong tulay."   'Who pocketed the money?'   In a text message to GMA News Online, Senator Osmeña said, "Each contract had about 21 percent allocated for local costs. Yet, the DPWH made the local government pay for all local costs. Guess who pocketed the money?"   The President’s Bridge Program was under the Office of the President, but was then transferred to the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2002, Osmeña said in a previous hearing.   “Nilagay na lang nila ang bata nila dun kaya kontrolado pa rin,” the senator told reporters.   “Nakikita natin kapag diretso ang project, pinapadaan sa Planning Services ng DPWH. Pero kapag tabingi, sa President’s Bridges Program,” he added.   P10B-P15B in kickbacks   In a press briefing Monday, Osmeña said officials of the Arroyo administration likely enriched themselves to the tune of P10 billion to P15 billion from contracts awarded without public bidding under the President’s Bridge Program.   “Minasahe nang minasahe ‘yan pero ayaw naman nilang aminin ngayon, nagtuturuan sila,” the senator noted in a press briefing after a blue ribbon committee hearing on the matter.   “But definitely, I think all of them should be charged for anti-graft... all the secretaries, the undersecretaries, the assistant secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the National Economic Development Authority, the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice and those who were in the Office of the President,” said Osmeña, a member of the blue ribbon panel.   “My estimate is P10 billion to P15 billion. Easy. But I hope I will be able to be more accurate in the future. Don’t ask me now, ask me about two months from now,” Osmeña told reporters. — VS, GMA News