After nearly 25 days since GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas questioned an alleged overpriced waiting shed in Barangay Katilingban, Molo District, the Iloilo City Engineer’s Office (CEO) revealed of over P200,000 difference in project cost.

From what was worth P798,525.47, the project cost P586,653.37 only, or a difference of P211,872.10, according to the Iloilo CEO.

Of the items, the biggest difference was found on the price of the roof and roof framing that reached over P95,000. This is reportedly the result of the variation order.

“Kahit during construction, kahit na-bid na, pwede kaming maka-variation. Allowed kami ng COA [Commission on Audit]. Hindi dumaan sa akin. Hindi ito sa time ko. So ako as umupo ako dito, ako aware ako na ipapa-check sa isang unit, ganyan na ang presyo, bakit ang taas. Nakita ko doon ang fabrication,” said Engr. Dianaline Señoron, head of the Iloilo CEO.

The Iloilo CEO has submitted to the COA an order for review.

Further, it was learned that the contractor has not yet been paid and that surplus money will be reverted to the coffers of the Local Government Unit (LGU).

Meanwhile, the development of an overpass on the diversion road in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao District earlier deemed worth P4.1. million could cost between P2.8 million to P2.9 million only.

“Ang medyo magastos ay ang kolorete na LED light. Maaaring hindi na lang yan kasi hindi naman mahalaga kasi ang ating kailangan bubong lang naman, proteksyon sa tao, then tiles no need naman dahil non-skid na lang upang hindi madulas ang tao,” Señoron said.

According to the head of the Iloilo City Legal Office, Atty. Joseph Edward Areño, the variation order is stipulated in the procurement law, or the review of project amount. However, he pointed out that this is not a standard operating procedure, but done on a case-to-case basis only.

“Ang variation order or VO is one of the tools sa procurement law natin for which ang pera ng city government maaaring magamit sa tama. So it is really legal,” Areño said.

But the apparent difference in the project cost that has been revealed indicates corruption, said Msgr. Meliton Oso, convenor of “Kahublagan Kontra Korapsyon.”

“Ano pa ba ang masasabi natin diyan? Kung hindi tayo nag-ingay, ocho cientos mil (P800,000) talaga. Dahil nag-ingay tayo, napababa into something P500 [thousand]. A single centavo saved is something for the poor,” Oso stressed.

Oso urged residents to be more vigilant about suspicious projects.

Oso has posed a challenge to professional engineers to help carry out assessments on questionable projects.