Singson on ‘Yolanda’ shelters: We haven’t paid anyone yet

DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –The government will ask the  contractors of bunkhouses  for Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan)  victims to “correct” the temporary shelters if they are really substandard or   they  will not get  paid,   Public Works and  Highways Secretary  Rogelio Singson said  on Tuesday.

But Singson, in an interview over Radio  Inquirer  990AM, said those alleging  irregularities in the construction of the bunkhouses must first  show proof.

“We will ask them  to either two things –correct them or we will not pay them ,” he said.

“Kasi wala  pa kaming binabayaran. Wala pa kaming down payment. Wala pa kaming binabayaran d’yan   dahil hindi pa kasi tinu turn over (Because we haven’t paid anyone yet. We have no downpayment. We have yet to pay because there was no turnover yet),” Singson said.

Singson said  he also has to see yet  the documents  that rehabilitation czar  Panfilo Lacson was reportedly gathering  pertaining to  alleged “under specifications”  of the material used to build the bunkhouses.

“I want to see that and I talked to  him yesterday  and  he told me he  will pursue  the  investigation. I said fine, welcome just tell   us where the  defects are and we will correct or we will not pay.  That’s  simple as that,” he said.

Singson  maintained   that there was no overpricing of the  bunkhouses   as he also dismissed  any perception  that  certain  contractors  had  been favored  or  someone had influenced the  choice of contractors.

Because of  the  urgent need to build  the  bunkhouses,  he said, the government did not conduct a bidding as it simply asked  the contractors in the area who could do the  project.

“We came up with the  agency estimate for the bunkhouses with particular speculations and because of the emergency nature, we called in the contractors. We know they would not earn from the project because of the slim costing so we said, whoever want to do this project, let’s know,” Singson said.

And there were small  contractors in Eastern Samar, he said,   who were ready  to build one to two bunkhouses.

“Not in large scale. In other words, no one is cornering the bunkhouses as might  be perceived that one contractor cornered all contracts. None. The biggest, if I remember right,  involves six bunkhouses, he pointed out.

Responding to allegations that the  actual cost  of the bunkhouses were higher than the approved  estimates of  his office, Singson  said: “They have to tell me where their information is  coming from because maybe they are comparing it to donations. What cost will you incur if all materials to be used are from donations.   Whereas in our case we have to do full cost.”

He could not confirm reports, however,  if indeed  there was a politician, who influenced the choice of the contractors.

“I don’t know about the influence… I checked and they said there was none. And what influence could we expect with one or two units? How can you become rich with that?”

Singson reiterated that he  would  leave  his post if the overpriced allegations  could be proven true.

“As far as I’m concerned  unless they can prove this is  overpriced, I’m gone if its overpriced,”  he added.

RELATED STORIES:

Evardone on bunkhouse controversy: ‘My conscience is clear’

35% bunkhouse kickbacks probed

‘Yolanda’ survivors twice victimized if overpricing claims true – group