Alcantara admits certifying P55-M Bulacan flood control project as complete

Former Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara admitted Tuesday that he issued a certificate of completion on the P55 million flood control project in Baliwag, Bulacan which turned out to be a ghost project. 

Alcantara made the admission during Tuesday’s House flood control probe when questioned by Manila Rep. Joel Chua, Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chairman, if he indeed issued a certificate of completion on the project as stated in the DPWH documents obtained by the House panel.

“Yes, Sir. The attachment of the certificate of completion is based on the certificate of final inspection conducted by the team,” Alcantara said.

Chua then pressed the engineer and asked if he merely relied on his team’s inspection report and did not check on the project himself, to which Alcantara replied, “Yes, Your Honor, because I presume...”

Chua quickly cut Alcantara off and asked if he ever inspected a project in person to ensure that it indeed has been completed.

Alcantara said he conducts inspections in person, but not all the time.

“Meron naman [po akong iniinspect], Your Honor," he said.

Alcantara, however, later clarified that his team validated the defects of the subject P55 million projects, if there are any, before the final inspection team makes a report.

Still, Chua said Alcantara’s clarification does not change the fact that the former DPWH engineer issued a certificate of completion without seeing for himself if the project was indeed completed.

“Basta [nag-issue] lang kayo, naniniwala kayo dun sa papel na ibinigay sa inyo na kumpleto?” Chua asked.

Alcantara replied, “Yes, Sir. There is a presumed regularity of the documents presented to me, Your Honor.”

Chua then said such action from Alcantara is unacceptable because the certificate of completion is the basis used by the government if it  will pay the contractor or otherwise.

“This action of issuing a certificate of completion without seeing it for himself is no small responsibility. Once he certifies, the payment will be released,” Chua added.

Asked by Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. if the project in Barangay Piel, Baliwag is a ghost project, Alcantara replied: "I think yes, Your Honor."

On August 20, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. inspected the reinforced concrete riverwall project in Barangay Piel, Baliwag and found out that it was non-existent.

''Extremely, more than disappointed, I'm actually... I'm getting very angry with what's happening here... Nakaka... Papaano naman, 220 meters, P55 million completed ang record ng Public Works, [pero] walang ginawa. Kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho... Puntahan ninyo, wala kayong makita kahit ano... Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaha doon sa kabila,'' Marcos told reporters.

(How's this, it's 220 meters, P55 million. It was 'completed' based on Public Works record; but nothing was done here. They did not even work for a day. You go here and you'll see nothing. The flood on the other side continues.) 

Momo also quizzed Alcantara as to why he did not visit the site of the P55 million flood control project to check its existence himself.

Alcantara replied by reiterating that he presumes regularity on the actions of his subordinates.

“No [I did not visit it]. I rely on the signatures of my personnel, Your Honor,” he said.

He also said his team met every Monday and that he was given an accomplishment report during those meetings.

“All the section chiefs, they present accomplishments [reports] through photos,” Alcantara said.

During Momo’s questioning, Alcantara also admitted that he is the final approving authority in paying the contractor SYMS for the P55 million project.

“I am the final signatory [for approval of the final payment. The first signatory is the implementing section, then the accountant, then finally, myself,” he said.

Prior to Alcantara’s admission, independent bloc House members Reps. Isidro Ungab and Toby Tiangco fielded questions on the infrastructure project allocations under the 2025 national budget.

Ungab took the floor after Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice made a motion to invite former House committee on appropriations panel chairman and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and former Senate finance committee chairperson Grace Poe to discuss budget line items under the 2025 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Ungab, in a thunderous voice, said he agreed with Erice’s motion because his assertion that the 2025 national budget as the “most corrupt budget in history” is yet to be disputed.

“Wala akong naririnig na denial,” Ungab said.

Manila Rep. Benny Abante then objected to Erice’s motion, arguing that the purpose of inviting Co and Poe before a flood control inquiry is unclear at best.

The inquiry was then suspended.

When it resumed, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin argued that the House flood control inquiry is not the venue to answer other budget-related questions.

“Huwag po nating ilihis. For now, this oversight committee’s purpose is to instill measures so that these ghost projects won’t happen again,” she pointed out.

“Let us not make the investigation personal.  We are losing focus,” she added.

Tiangco, however, argued that the House does not have the standing to probe the flood control projects if it will not agree to invite its former members to the inquiry, including Co.  

Garin tried to interject but Tiangco repeatedly said “I have the floor” to drown out Garin’s comments.

Session was again suspended.

When session resumed, Erice decided to withdraw his motion to invite Co and Poe, citing the agenda of the House probe is to investigate flood control projects, not the national budget.

It was only at this point when Chua was able to probe Alcantara. —AOL, GMA Integrated News