Thursday, January 25, 2007 Ombud: Pass lamppost papers
THE anti-graft office has directed the bids and awards committee of the public works department to submit all its papers on the allegedly overprized lampposts used during the Asean summit.
Ombudsman director Virginia Santiago said the order was sent to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last Tuesday. They expect compliance in 10 days.
The committee is headed by DWPH 7 Assistant Director Marlina Alviso, who is impleaded in a separate anti-graft complaint for the alleged anomalous purchase of another item used during the Asean summit–surveillance cameras.
Conduct of bidding
“We want to know how the bidding was conducted, who participated in the bidding, how much were the submitted bids, how much is the actual cost of the items,” Santiago said.
While the lampposts allegedly cost the government P95,000 each, solid evidence to establish its actual cost is yet to be obtained. The ornamental lampposts were erected along the routes the Asean delegates passed by during the five-day event.
There they still stand though some reportedly no longer work.
The fact-finding investigation on the lampposts stemmed from the request for assistance jointly submitted by some cause-oriented groups a few days before the summit.
The groups expressed “alarm” over the procurement and asked that the DPWH make public the documents on the purchases.
“In the spirit of transparency and accountability, may we ask your good office to compel various government offices and agencies to make public the actual spending, contracts and documents related to (the) procurement,” they said.
Jaime Paglinawan, representing the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Central Visayas, and Ramie Inopiquez of the Panaghugpong sa Kabus sa Dakbayan (Kadamay) signed the letter.
Nick Abasolo of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Victor Lapaz of the Panaghiusa sa mga Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Sugbo and Winnie Badayos of the Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo also signed the request.
Security cam
“The amount spent by our local and national government leaders is enough to spend for housing, medicine, classrooms and other immediate and long-term socio-economic needs,” they added.
They also raised concern over the surveillance equipment purchase and questioned how DPWH 7 Director Roberto Lala could disburse P62 million of taxpayers’ money “for a questionable transaction.”
The surveillance equipment purchase is the subject of a plunder case filed by Crisologo Saavedra who won the bidding but lost the contract allegedly after refusing to pay kickbacks reaching 15 percent of the actual project cost. (KNR)
