Latest news with #Dolor
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DPWH chief to face Senate probe, orders audit of flood control projects
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Monday confirmed he will attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged irregularities in flood control projects, saying the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already begun inspections nationwide. 'Yes po, dadalo po kami… may official invitation po na binigay ng Blue Ribbon Committee po sa Senate po," Bonoan said during an interview on GTV's Balitanghali. (Yes, we will attend. We received an official invitation from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.) He noted that the DPWH teams have started consolidating inspection reports last week to determine questionable projects and, if necessary, conduct full audits that could lead to sanctions. "For the time being kung ano po yung napupuna nila, then that is the time when we will send actually yung actual audit ng team namin… Maybe then, that may warrant for the persecution and sanction kung sino yung involved dito," he said. (For the time being, we take note of initial observations. That is when we send our audit team to gather documentation, which may warrant prosecution and sanctions against those involved.) He also responded to reports from Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor about a substandard dike in the province. 'Ito po yung padadala kami ng audit team namin para tingnan po lahat yan… gumagawa na po sila initial investigation and audit din po doon sa sinasabi ni Governor Dolor po na substandard na dike," he added. (We will send an audit team to investigate. Our regional office there is already conducting its own probe on the dike Governor Dolor described as substandard.) Bonoan also welcomed the Commission on Audit's plan to conduct a fraud audit of flood control projects, including in Bulacan. 'Yes po, yes po. That would be very welcome.' He added that the DPWH will impose sanctions on personnel proven to be involved in irregularities. 'Kung ano pong karampatang sanction sa kanila then we will impose it… certainly, we will submit all the documents kung sino man yung magiimbestiga," he noted. (Whatever sanctions are appropriate, we will impose them. We will submit all documents to investigators.) The Senate hearing on flood control projects is set for Tuesday. This was announced by Blue Ribbon panel chairman Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Saturday, who admitted that the inquiry would be a daunting task, 'considering the enormity of the multi-billion projects, and the complexity of untangling the web of corruption within the public works system.' The senator also said that the probe will not focus solely on contractors in question but will also try to uncover the public officials who shamelessly profit from flood control. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Oriental Mindoro Gov. Dolor dismayed by damaged dikes
Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito 'Bonz' Dolor expressed his dismay over damaged dikes in his province, which was hit by floods due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and the consecutive storms last month, even as these were put up fairly recently. Dolor over the weekend inspected several dikes, including one in Mulawin, Naujan where a security guard initially refused to let officials enter, as he said he received orders from the management not to let anyone in without a written request from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). 'Kaya ba pati Gobernador ayaw ninyo papasukin kasi may tinatago kayo? Dugo't pawis ng bayan yan! [Is this why you won't even let the Governor in? Because you're hiding something? That's the people's blood and sweat!],' he said in a post on his Facebook account. Dolor was eventually able to inspect the dike, which he said was full of sand, and the sheet piles were poorly embedded, and even broken, as reported by Darlene Cay on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday. He also inspected another flood control project in Barangay Tagumpay in Naujan, which he said cost P1 billion for one kilometer, noting that he only saw one piece of metal rod, a waste of funds when compared with the Capitol with a P2-billion budget for a year. 'Sa haba na ho ng aking paglalakbay dito, ako po'y lubos na nagpapasalamat dahil may isang bakal na inilagay. Imaginine niyo ho, all throughout, walang bakal, pero ito, meron. Salamat ho ng marami sa gumawa nito, sa nag-inspect nito, at sa DPWH,' he said sarcastically. (In the long course of my journey here, I am deeply grateful because there's at least one metal reinforcement placed. Just imagine, all throughout there was no metal, but here, there is. Many thanks to those who made this, to those who inspected this, and to the DPWH.) Oriental Mindoro is one of the flood prone areas recently cited by President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., who has ordered a review of the flood control projects across the country. GMA News Online is still trying to reach out to the private contractors of the said projects, and the DPWH for comment on the matter. During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, Marcos warned government personnel who steal public funds—such as those for flood control projects—to have some shame. Just last week Marcos launched a website for citizens to report on flood control projects. He said 20% of the P545-billion budget for flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors, five of whom have contracts across the country. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
