DBM, DPWH set joint review of ‘ghost’ flood control projects

DBM-DPWH set joint review of ‘ghost’ flood control projects

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will sit down with new Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon for a review of projects as Congress digs deep into so-called ghost flood control infrastructure.

On the sidelines of the Senate budget hearing on Monday, Sept. 1, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman told reporters that she had a conversation with Dizon over the weekend and had agreed to get to the bottom of the controversy that involved projects listed as completed and the contractors already paid but were actually inexistent.

“Wala sa mandato namin i-check isa-isa yung mga proyekto ng DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) kung ano yung mga nandodoon but we welcome at least may bagong leadership ang DPWH,” Pangandaman told reporters.

[TRANSLATION: Checking each project of the DPWH is beyond our mandate, but we welcome at least the new DPWH leadership.]

“Nagusap kami kahapon ni Vince Dizon na iisa-isahin namin yan. Papatingnan namin lahat yan kung saan nanggagaling ang mga proyekto na substandard… nadodoble, gawa na tapos nakalagay pa siya,” the budget chief said.

[TRANSLATION: Vince Dizon and I discussed yesterday that we will dig into this one by one. We will review all of these projects – which projects are substandard, or duplicated and yet still given allocation.]

An exasperated Pangandaman expressed dismay over allegations of congressional insertions and budget realignment.

Last week, Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno tagged the DBM to be included in the investigation on what he called sponsors behind ghost projects in the current national expenditure plan.

Puno filed House Resolution 201 that sought a probe on some fictitious projects funded through congressional insertions. He also wanted an inquiry on the “actions of the DBM in the evaluation, release, and withholding of funds for said projects,” according to his resolution.

“Hindi po yan isang buwan ginagawa. January pa lang meron na kaming budget call… Six months ginugol naming dyan para gawin yang budget na yan,” Pangandaman said.

[TRANSLATION: It will take more than a month to craft the budget. Every January, we launch the budget call… We spent six months to draw up that budget.]

“Kung naiinis sila [Puno] sa nangyayari, doble or tatlo po ang inis ng DBM sa nangyayari,” the Budget official said.

[TRANSLATION: If they [Puno] are pissed off because of the turn of events, the DBM is upset by a two-fold or three-fold more.]

NewsWatch Plus Business News Anchor Lois Calderon contributed to this story.