Senator Raffy Tulfo wants to investigate the projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) due to corruption allegations.
“Siguro sa mga project, project ng DPWH. Kasi maraming mga maninipis na kalsada diyan,” said the senator after being asked which agency should be approved for next year’s budget.
The DPWH’s dedicated budget will reach P718.4 billion under the proposed P5.268 trillion budget for 2023 based on the National Expenditures Program.
The senator explained, he said that if a lawmaker proposes a project worth P25 billion, however, the actual cost of the project will only reach P10 billion.
“Siguro, it’s about time na silipin itong mga project, project na ito. Legit ba ‘tong mga project na ‘to at tama ba ‘yung mga materyales na ginagamit diyan? Tumutugma ba dun sa amount na requested?” he said.
He said there are kickbacks in road projects where part of the project’s cost is shared by the project contractors and DPWH district engineers.
“So, ‘yung P100 million na project, magiging parang P20 million na lamang dahil ‘yung P80 million eh napunta sa hati-hati,” he said.
Tulfo wants probe on DPWH projects
Last month, Tulfo questioned the DPWH because of the broken schools and defective roads.
In October 2020, former President Rodrigo Duterte made it public that corruption in the agency was rampant, so he called on Congress to look into its projects.
Duterte revealed the names of nine former and incumbent lawmakers allegedly involved in anomalous projects of DPWH.
Before revealing the names of the solons and DPWH officials, Duterte clarified that inclusion in the list does not mean “condemnation or indictment.” Duterte also mentioned presumption of innocence until proven guilty, adding the list should not be taken as “gospel truth.”
“The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that’s one; that it cannot be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would lie all throughout until conviction or acquittal…Kaya lang lumabas ‘yung mga pangalan nila eh kailangan ko sabihin sa mga tao. (The names were included so I must tell the people) or else I’d look stupid,” Duterte said.
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