Pimentel seeks probe of DPWH execs over scheduled biddings

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. KRISTINE SABILLO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III wants erring officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) investigated and fired if the reports were true that they have already started bidding out projects even before Congress could approve the proposed 2017 national budget.

The proposed P3.35-trillion budget for next year was already approved by the House of Representatives but it is currently being deliberated on the Senate floor.

Pimentel said he felt  “shock and outrage”  by reports that some district engineers and regional directors of the DPWH have started bidding out projects for 2017.

“It is both shameful and deplorable why certain DPWH district engineers and regional directors would already schedule the conduct of biddings for projects that are yet to be officially approved by Congress and signed by the President into law,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“Kung may ‘tara’ sa Bureau of Customs, meron din palang obligasyon sa DPWH,” he said, referring to the grease money being passed on allegedly by handpicked winning contractors to their “connections” at the DPWH.

Pimentel then called on DPWH Secretary Mark Villar to quickly investigate the reports and order a stop to the scheduled biddings “to break the backbone of graft and corruption at the agency which has been long tainted by several irregularities in the past.”

The Senate leader also urged Villar to fire erring DPWH officials and file the necessary charges in court “to completely eradicate the bad eggs in the agency.” RAM/rga

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