Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda slammed Wednesday the University of the Philippines for its criticisms on the Manila Bay rehabilitation and allegedly milking public funds since 2016.
“Kalahating bilyon ang binayaran sa kanila simula 2016 hanggang taong ito. Kalahating bilyon na puro lang konsultasyon, walang infrastructure. Kalahating bilyon ang binayaran natin sa UP na ‘yan,” Antiporda said when asked about the UP Diliman Institute of Biology’s offer to help in Manila Bay rehabilitation.
(Half a billion was paid to them from 2016 to this year. Half a billion in pure consultation, no infrastructure. We paid half a billion to that UP.)
“Bakit kayo naniningil sa gobyerno? Matapos kayong pag-aralin ng taumbayan, matapos kayong maging iskolar ng taumbayan, sisipsipin niyo ang dugo ng ating kababayan sa dami ng kinuha niyong pondo,” he added.
(Why are you charging the government? After the people sent you to school, after you become a scholar of the people, you will suck the blood of our countrymen with the huge funds you took.)
Biologists from the University of the Philippines- Diliman earlier offered to help DENR rehabilitate Manila Bay using “science-based” programs.
Also read: DENR: Dolomite not washed out but covered by ‘black sand’
DENR Usec slams UP over criticisms on Manila Bay rehabilitation
“We advocate and are willing to assist the DENR in a science-based rehabilitation program for Manila Bay that targets the recovery of its biological functions and services (e.g., through restoring and protecting key habitats, managing invasive species, reducing pollution, etc.) and understands the interplay between natural processes and human activities,” the UP Institute of Biology said in a recent statement.
Antiporda said DENR would only accept UP’s help if it is for free.
He also slammed UP for criticizing DENR’s project of covering some parts of Manila Bay shoreline with crushed dolomite to create a “white sand beach.”
“Tapos ngayon, gumagawa kami ng maganda, kailangan magbayad kami sa inyo. Huwag naman,” Antiporda said.
(Now that we are doing going, we have to pay you. Don’t do that.)
“Hindi niyo karapatan batikusin ito dahil bayaran kayo. ‘Yun lang po ang masasabi ko sa UP. Uulit-ulitin ko: Bayaran kayo,” he said.
(You have no right to criticize it because you only work when you are paid. That is all I can say to UP. I repeat: you only work when you are paid.
The DENR official also asked the Commission on Audit to look into the government’s payments to UP.