ONE look at billboards announcing the launching of government projects and one can easily spot something that merits a raised eyebrow. There are other “items” of course, but for the moment, allow me to cite this one particular “anomaly.”
And what is that?
The contractor and his address.
For instance, the project is in the province or in one of the towns of the province.
But who is the contractor of that project – a contractor from a far-away province.
Of course, that is not factually or even legally questionable because government notices for biddings are published in the Philgeps, which can be accessed anywhere in the country for as long as one is online.
So anyone can freely participate.
But what raises the eyebrow is the fact that there are “local contractors” who are also capable to handle the job, and also have access to the Philgeps site.
So the question – nganong taga-layo may nagtrabaho nga naa man unta daghang local contractors?
Nagpasabot ba kini nga mas ubos ang offer sa contractor nga taga-layo kay sa offer sa mga local nga contractor?
Lisod katuhoan right – because the logistics, the manpower and all, can already bite a big slice of the operational cost. Maghakot og mga heavy equipment unya isakay pa sa barko o barge, magpadala og mga manpower nga motrabaho, and the transport from office of origin to the project site also takes a toll on the budget.
And another point – wa ba diay silay project sa ilang lugar nga moabot pa man sila sa layo nga lugar pagpangita og project unya mogasto pa sila og dako?
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But the truth is – the proponent of the project retains the absolute power to decide who undertakes the project – kay iya man na nga project so siya gyod ang magbuot.
So if a Congressman is the proponent, then naturally, he decides the contractor of the project, and of course, with the full acquiescence of the DPWH.
Same applies when a partylist representative is the proponent, or even when a senator is the proponent.
And I am talking here of programmed projects, meaning, those projects that are listed in the national expenditure program or NEP which comes from the Office of the President, and submitted to Congress.
But there are insertions or unprogrammed projects, meaning those that are not included in the NEP but were only inserted prior or during the deliberations in Congress.
Kasagaran sa mga multo nga mga flood control projects adto punita sa mga insertions.
Like, someone told somebody to look for an LGU that needs a flood control project, cited a certain amount as project cost, the only task of the mayor is to identify the site, and they will do the rest.
Ang trabaho sa mayor igo lang sa pag-identify sa lugar asa ibutang ang flood control project, unya wala na siyay labot sa pag-proseso sa mga docs and everything, including the choice of the contractor kay ang mahitabo, maghulat ra siya nga hatagan sa iyang pahat or share sa total project cost.
Kasagaran sa mga mayor, mosugot gyod kay tiaw bay butangan og project sa iyang lugar para motuo ang mga tawo nga nagkugi siya og pangita og project para sa lungsod, plus, maka-kwarta pa siya in the process.
That the mayor or the congressman is innocent of all these shenanigans, well, tell that to the marines.
So folks, from now on, kindly check the billboard posted along the road, the national highway and anywhere and then ask yourself why a contractor from far-away Luzon, Calbayog or even Tacloban is undertaking a project in the province.
Gets????
