DPWH: Trillions may have been lost to anomalous flood control projects

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday told senators that losses from anomalous flood control projects could reach up to the trillions of pesos, as the Senate blue ribbon committee continued its probe into questionable infrastructure spending.

During questioning, Senator Bam Aquino asked Dizon if the estimated “tens of billions, possibly hundreds of billions” lost could go as high as a trillion pesos.

“May posibilidad po (There is a possibility),” Dizon admitted.

Aquino underscored the magnitude of the amount, saying that increasing feeding days for malnourished Filipino children would only cost P3 billion.

“We are talking about possibly trillions na ninakaw sa atin. So that is why this investigation is really important (We are talking about possibly trillions stolen from us. That is why this investigation is really important),” he said.

Probe to cover past decade

Dizon explained that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), formed under Executive Order 94, has been directed to review flood control projects spanning the last 10 years.

“I guess it will really depend po… hindi po natin malalaman kung gaano kalaki. Malaki po e,” Dizon said. (It will really depend… we do not know yet how big. It’s huge.)

The DPWH secretary said the scale of anomalies uncovered so far includes both “ghost projects” and substandard construction certified as completed. He noted that falsification charges have already been filed against certain individuals last week.

Transparency portal

To assure the public, Dizon said the agency is preparing to publish its initial findings within one to two weeks through a dedicated transparency portal.

"We want to build a transparency portal similar to the President’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website, so we can publish our reports and the actions being taken by DPWH to hold people accountable,” he said.

The first disclosures, he added, will focus on ghost projects and substandard works, with more entries added as the probe progresses.

When asked by Aquino if contractors, project proponents, and even DPWH personnel would be named, Dizon gave assurance: “Pati po 'yung mga DPWH personnel na involved ilalabas po natin.”

(We will also release the names of DPWH personnel involved.)

Public accountability

Aquino said the investigation must move swiftly, given the staggering implications of the anomalies. “Mahalaga sa taong bayan na malaman nating lahat kailan ba ito mapa-publish, kailan ba ito matatapos,” he said.

(It is important for the public to know when this will be published, when it will be finished.)

Dizon, however, cautioned that the reporting process would take time due to the large number of cases still being documented. “Napakarami po at tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagrereport sa amin,” he said. (There are so many, and reports are still coming in.)

Bid rigging and penalties

Aquino also raised the possibility of collusion in the bidding process. “Mayroon bang bid rigging na nangyari?” he asked.

(Was there bid rigging that happened?)

“Absolutely, Mr. Chair,” Dizon answered. 

“Hindi po mangyayari ito kung malinis at transparent ang proseso ng procurement at either the district levels or the regional levels.”

(Absolutely, Mr. Chair. This would not have happened if the procurement process was clean and transparent, whether at the district or regional levels.)

Aquino reminded the panel that under the Philippine Competition Act, entities proven guilty of bid rigging face fines ranging from ?100 million to ?250 million per offense.

“Importante sa taumbayan na hindi lang may makulong at hindi lang lahat ng involved ay makulong, pero maibalik din ‘yung pera,” Aquino said.

(It’s important for the public not just that people go to jail, but also that the money is returned.)

Dizon agreed: “In my opinion, lahat po ng pwedeng ibatong kaso sa kanila, gawin po natin para hindi lang po mapanagot pero maibalik po ang pera.”

(In my opinion, every possible case should be filed against them, not only to hold them accountable but also to return the money.) —AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News