DPWH head says ‘Yolanda’ bunkhouses not overpriced

PHOTO COURTESY OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AGENCY REGION 8

MANILA, Philippines – Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson on Monday denied claims that bunkhouses constructed for Supertyphoon “Yolanda” victims were overpriced.

Singson also said he would resign if the bunkhouses were overpriced

“It is not overpriced. If it is overpriced, the following day I will submit my resignation to President Aquino,” Singson said in a media briefing at Malacañang.

 “There is no overpricing here,” he insisted, though adding that there was the possibility of “underspecification” on the part of the contractors.

“Some of the contractors may not have followed the specifications. And therefore, we refer to them as ‘underspecs.’ Those are two different problems – overpricing and underspecifications,” he said.

“If the contractors did not follow the specifications that we gave them, they will not be paid unless they correct or rectify to meet our standards,” Singson added.

The Secretary clarified that the government has not paid any of the contractors and it will be up to them if they will retrofit the bunkhouses or they will not be paid.

Singson said they have a binding “general contract” with the contractors, which includes the specifications for the bunkhouses.

The statement was in reaction to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report on the alleged overpricing of temporary shelters in areas hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The Secretary said they have also decided to limit the number of families staying in one bunkhouse to comply with international standards.

“The comments coming from the international agencies [indicated] that the one-room unit is too [small] so we have made adjustments. So instead of 24 families per bunkhouse we are reducing them to 12 units. So one family will occupy a bigger unit,” he said.

Inquirer earlier said the bunkhouses were deemed “noncompliant in many respects with internationally recognized standards and best practices” by an international shelter group.

Singson said the family rooms will be expanded from 8.64 square meter (sqm.) to 17.28 sqm. by knocking out the partitions. Each room will now cost P65,750.

However, this will affect their target to provide temporary shelters to 6,000 families.

“Because of the reconfiguration we will have to reduce the number of families that will be accommodated,” he said.

Of 222 bunkhouses targeted, 126 have been constructed.

At least 500,000 houses were totally damaged during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” last November 8, forcing many families to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

Singson said emergency shelters such as schools and tents should only be used for about 4 to 6 months by evacuees and that temporary shelters like bunkhouses will provide safer dwellings while they wait for the construction of permanent houses.

He admitted that the bunkhouses will only cover a small percentage of displaced families, adding that there are other forms of shelter assistance such as giving out construction materials.

Singson said he doubted if the reconstruction of areas hit by “Yolanda” will be finished in two years because of the “scale of devastation.”

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