DPWH chief to face Senate probe, orders audit of flood control projects

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Monday confirmed he will attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control projects, saying the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already begun inspections nationwide.

“Yes po, dadalo po kami… may official invitation po na binigay ng Blue Ribbon Committee po sa Senate po," Bonoan said during an interview on GTV's Balitanghali. 

(Yes, we will attend. We received an official invitation from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.)

He noted that the DPWH teams have started consolidating inspection reports last week to determine questionable projects and, if necessary, conduct full audits that could lead to sanctions.

"For the time being kung ano po yung napupuna nila, then that is the time when we will send actually yung actual audit ng team namin… Maybe then, that may warrant for the persecution and sanction kung sino yung involved dito," he said.

(For the time being, we take note of initial observations. That is when we send our audit team to gather documentation, which may warrant prosecution and sanctions against those involved.) 

He also responded to reports from Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor about a substandard dike in the province.

“Ito po yung padadala kami ng audit team namin para tingnan po lahat yan… gumagawa na po sila initial investigation and audit din po doon sa sinasabi ni Governor Dolor po na substandard na dike," he added. 

(We will send an audit team to investigate. Our regional office there is already conducting its own probe on the dike Governor Dolor described as substandard.)

Bonoan also welcomed the Commission on Audit’s plan to conduct a fraud audit of flood control projects, including in Bulacan.

“Yes po, yes po. That would be very welcome.”

He added that the DPWH will impose sanctions on personnel proven to be involved in irregularities.

“Kung ano pong karampatang sanction sa kanila then we will impose it… certainly, we will submit all the documents kung sino man yung magiimbestiga," he noted. 

(Whatever sanctions are appropriate, we will impose them. We will submit all documents to investigators.)

The Senate hearing on flood control projects is set for Tuesday.

This was announced by Blue Ribbon panel chairman Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Saturday, who admitted that the inquiry would be a daunting task, “considering the enormity of the multi-billion projects, and the complexity of untangling the web of corruption within the public works system.”

The senator also said that the probe will not focus solely on contractors in question but will also try to uncover the public officials who shamelessly profit from flood control. — BM, GMA Integrated News