TALISAY CITY – A City Hall official disclosed Thursday alleged irregularities in P45-million road projects undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in this city.
General Services Office head Archie Tuvilla said the City Government through the DPWH spent P15 million for asphalt overlay on existing asphalt pavement along Bacolod North Road but, he said, "There is no existing asphalt pavement." The project supposedly started January 6, 2009 with a time frame of 73 calendar days.
Some P30-million was also spent for the improvement and rehabilitation of some sections of Bacolod North Road. The project supposedly started February 19, 2009 with target completion of 319 calendar days.
In a press conference Thursday, Tuvilla said the title of the project in its actual project site posted along the highway did not matched with the documents produced by the DPWH office.
“The DPWH documents speak for itself as clearly a proof of irregularities,” said Tuvilla, adding that district engineer Sanny Boy Oropel explained to him that it was "clerical" error.
Tuvilla together with village chief Ma. Elena Lazarte and Zenaida Josue of Women Kahublagan sang Nagahugpong nga Kababainhan sang Talisay said that they have filed a correspondence to the Ombudsman and the City Graftwatch last February 14, 2010 requesting for an investigation in what they called as “misappropriated project”.
Lazarte and Josue said they have met Representative Jose Carlos Lacson only recently and discussed about the issue with the congressman. “But no clear or common understanding were met,” said Lazarte.
"What he (Lacson) told us was he would recommend for an investigation with regard the issue," she said. Lacson could not be reached to comment as of press time Thursday.
Lazarte said Lacson is equally liable with DPWH because the agency also got funds from the lawmaker's Priority Development Assistance Fund.
The village pointed out that even in the barangay level, joggling of funds is allowed by law.
Tuvilla, on the other hand, cited Republic Act 9184, an act providing for the modernization of the procurement activities of the government and for other purposes which according to him was somehow had been violated by the DPWH.
“Lascon still has the responsibility and with the documents, these are the legal leg to stand on the project that would have never been materialized without funding support from the solon’s office PDAF,” stressed Tuvilla.
Tuvilla said that their complaint is “no politics” on the issue because it has legal grounds and proof.
“Why is it that Lacson failed to took notice and to realize without scrutinizing that there was somewhat discrepancy in the title of the project,” asked Tuvilla.
He said the claim of Oropel of a clerical error “was misleading and cover up”.
The fact that it’s documented its basis of credence is the payment mode which Tuvilla explained that payments made by any government transactions are attach to vouchers for the issuance of checks despite the project that remained unimplemented, but paid already by the government, said Tuvilla.
“Really, it’s a serious matter,” he said.