Friday, April 11, 2008 Senate ready to probe Halsema rehab project
THE Senate committee on public works is willing to investigate complaints on the implementation of phase 2 of the Halsema Highway rehabilitation project.
Committee chairman Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said any complaint over alleged anomalies committed will be immediately investigated once the issue is brought to the Senate's attention.
In a coring test done by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in September last year, a portion of Mt. Data to Bontoc section failed the inspection. This prompted the agency to issue a remove-and-replace order to the contractor.
The rehabilitation of this section is under investigation by both the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti Graft Commission (PAGC) for alleged overpricing and partiality in the selection of contractors to handle the project.
Funded by the Office of the President and the Mountain Province District Engineering Office (MPDEO), phase 2 of the project amounts to P1.905 billion.
Halsema highway is the major access route to the Cordilleras, coming from Baguio City.
The project aims to provide basic infrastructure which would support the attainment of the development objectives of the country and to enhance the social and economic progress in the countryside. (RO)
