Manila, Philippines – It has only been two weeks since Secretary Vince Dizon was appointed in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
During this period, over 100 ghost and substandard flood control projects were reported amid ongoing investigation on the matter.
And as the investigation continues, Dizon eyes hundreds of trillions of funds wasted with the project anomalies.
On his first appearance during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s inquiry on Thursday, Dizon revealed the immediate findings of DPWH’s investigating committee about the various reports and incidents of failing flood control projects.
Among the projects inspected were substandard, incomplete, totally ghosted, lying idle but just recently continued, or projects fully paid but nonexistent.
DPWH and Independent Committee for Infrastructure (ICI)’s initial findings stated that it is not impossible to have hundreds of trillions of funds washed out and wasted from the anomalies.
Presently, contractors found involved with the anomalies were already charged, including SYMS Construction, Wawao Builders, and St. Timothy Construction owned by the Discayas.
Dizon says they will immediately file related cases to the contractors that will be unfolded in the following investigations.
SEC. DIZON SAYS ANOMALY IN DPWH, NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Aside from the issue of anomalous flood control projects, the committee took a jab at the potential failures within DPWh itself.
The committee inquired how these anomalies, and poor performance of contractors, got away from DPWH’s watch in recent years.
Dizon agreed that there may be a collusion between DPWH officials and contractors allowing anomalies and corruption to happen.
He also believes that bid rigging is possible.
DPWH confirmed that they have filed charges against 26 individuals involved in the anomalies, from which 20 were DPWH officials.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News