DPWH suspends all road reblocking works over possible corruption

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday said it has imposed an indefinite suspension on all road reblocking works over possible corruption. 

“Effectively now, I will be suspending all reblocking activities. And gagawa ako ng bagong department order on reblocking,” DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said at a press conference.

(Effectively now, I will be suspending all reblocking activities. And I will issue a new department order on reblocking.)

“Bakit ba ang DPWH binabakbak ang mga kalye na parang okay naman para lang gawin ulit. Well, siguro, sa maraming pagkakataon, alam na natin kung bakit. Kasi pinagkakakitaan lang iyon. Pinagkakakitaan yung pagsisira. Pinagkakakitaan din 'yung paggagawa ulit,” he added.

(Why is the DPWH tearing down roads and repairing them when they seem to be okay. Well, maybe, in many cases, we already know why. Because it’s just for kickback. There is kickback when they destroy and repair them again.) 

Dizon noted that the suspension does not include maintenance works for existing damaged roads.

During the presser, Dizon cited two reports of questionable road reblocking activities in Bocaue, Bulacan and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan.

The DPWH chief said the new department order will include “safeguards” to avoid corruption in road reblocking works.

Dizon called on the public to report ongoing road reblocking activities despite the suspension. According to him, district engineers will face suspension for violating the order. — AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News