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.
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