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Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Misor PB urges COA audit on Phividec implementation of MCTP
By Stephen Capillas
THE Provincial Board (PB) filed a resolution calling on the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit of the Philippine Veterans Development Corp. (Phividec).
In his special report delivered during the PB's regular session last Monday, PB member Norris Babiera said the special audit is in line with the Phividec's implementation of the Mindanao Container Terminal Project (MCTP).
The move came even as the PB filed another resolution asking the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to submit the list of contractors and sub-contractors tasked to implement the MCTP.
It was learned that the PB committee on labor and industrial relations uncovered more than 50 cases of labor violations allegedly committed by the project's contractors and sub-contractors.
These labor violations range from their failure to pay minimum wage, night privileges and overtime pay among others.
Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro tried but failed to contact Phividec President Gabriel Evangelista for his side on the matter.
Vice-Gov. Miguel de Jesus said the board should invite the representatives from Phividec's Project Management to shed light on this matter.
The PB committee conducted the investigation in the wake of the bomb attack at a building which housed nine Japanese consultants at the Phividec estate months ago.
The attack was blamed on disgruntled workers who reportedly have yet to secure the benefits due them by the contractors.
Meanwhile Babiera alleged that the multi-million peso project that is funded under the Japanese government's Ubuchi fund consists of several overpriced buildings.
He said this includes the canteen located beside the administration building measuring 170 square meters at P52,000 per square meter each.
Babiera said the construction is estimated to be P9 million which he described as "way above" the amount spent for such establishments which cost anywhere from P20,000 to P30,000.
He also mentioned a garage which cost P4 million to make and a power substation costing millions of pesos which failed to function because of sub-standard machinery.
"They had tried to switch it on for three months and still it won't work. The machinery is Taiwan-made," he said.
A COA special audit, Babiera said, will determine whether there was any overpricing at all of the buildings built in line with the MCTP.
"The Phividec is created by the national government and the MCTP is financed by the national government in cooperation with Japan. Thus we have every right to know whether there are any irregularities committed in handling the project," Babiera said.
(October 8, 2003 issue)
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