This as the SP asked district engineers Ramiro Cruz and Ulysses Llado of Nueva Ecija Engineering Districts 1 and 2, respectively, on how such programs were being funded and implemented.
Cruz said he has to look into the papers since the projects were implemented in 2007, his appointment, while Llado said that in 2007 alone, the guard railings project within his district amounted to some P102 million.
Senior Board Member Rommel Padilla of the first district said that in his hometown of Cuyapo, the railings appeared to be poorly constructed. “Wala sa hulog,” the actor-politician said. Based on his observation, the railings would result to greater injury than protect the waylaid vehicles. “Masyadong mababaw,” was how he described their foundation.
Board Member Amang Munsayac of the 2nd district. meanwhile said, the railings were placed along strait roads within his district. These railings should have been built in curves, he observed. Instead of protection to commuters, Munsayac said, the railings serve as unwanted fences to households.
Vice Gov. Edward Thomas Joson, on the other hand, called on the attention of the district engineers on the asphalt overlay projects being implemented the DPWH. The apparent lack of coordination between the agency and the local government units, he said, result to wastage of public funds that should have been used in more productive undertakings.
In Bongabon town, Joson said, Mayor Amelia Gamilla was surprised to see one day that a portion in Digmala road was asphalted when it was sound. He said there was no need to spend money in asphalting the road but the DPWH did the overlay.
Both Cruz and Llado said the funds the construction were undertaken through contracts. The projects were funded by the national office or with the Countrywide Development Fund of the congressmen concerned.
The board members said that local government units should be informed of projects to be financed or implemented by the agency to make sure the money is properly used.
Joson said such coordination is actually provided for in the Local Government Code.
