A FACULTY member of Central Philippine State University (CPSU) is asking the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the alleged corruption and irregularities on the P49-million renovation of a school building at the university's main campus in Kabankalan City.
In a letter complaint addressed to Mary Grace Reyes, state auditor, the faculty member who asked anonymity said, "I am bringing serious corruption happening in Central Philippine State University main campus. CPSU Kabankalan advertised through Philgeps on November 20, 2020, for the renovation of the three-story classroom building at CPSU main campus in the amount of P49 million."
Bidding was conducted in December 2020 and a resolution was passed by the members of the Bids and Awards Committee and duly approved by Aladino Moraca, head of the Procuring Entity (Hope).
Despite the approval of a resolution, the Head of the Procuring Entity headed by Moraca failed to issue a Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed based on the approved structural/engineering and architectural design, the complaint stated.
It added, "What actually happened was HLJ, a contractor, implemented the construction of the project. However, there were changes, revision which is in violation of RA (Republic Act) 9184 because such revisions were never published in Philgeps, thus, illegally approved by Moraca."
"Other changes and revisions made, which were not published and advertised in Philgeps, are transfer of the building site; complete revision as to the facade, structural design, the floor area is drastically reduced at the advantage of the contractor but disadvantageous to those who joined the bidding as their estimate was based on the actual designed engineering, structural and architectural perspective; the contractor in alleged collusion with Moraca constructed an entirely different structure in contrast to what was published in Philgeps," it further said.
"There was no transparency by which RA 9184 requires as a matter of policy giving all bidders equal opportunity and information so that they could all participated in the bidding and tendered their bids based on the publication in Philgeps and based supposed on the engineering, structural and architectural design that were never published in Philgeps," the complaint further stated.
When asked for comment, Moraca told Sunstar Bacolod that they proposed to the Department of Budget and Management the transfer of the project because during the final check-up they noticed that the heritage building of the university will be affected.
There was also a technical finding that the soil was hollow in the original site and that they are looking for an option that does not destroy the guidelines for the project implementation, Morca said.
"We have chosen the location with the consensus of the management team with the College of Education which is the end-user. I want a legal and exact process. There were bidders of course and in the process that is the result. I want a clean and honest transaction and I hate corruption," Moraca said.
He also said the design was being followed and the construction of the three-story building was even improved.
"We should consider that we are in the Covid-19 pandemic. There were also other bidders but HLG won. We are open to any investigation and willing to answer issues," Moraca added.
He said that COA already informed them of the complaint.
Moraca said the P49-million budget for the project comes from the capital outlay.
"CPSU submits the plan and cost estimate of the infra project every year and that the BDM has already studied the proposal," Moraca further said.