Overpricing at DPWH

Undoubtedly, aside from the Lower House in the legislative branch, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is one of the most corrupt agencies in the executive branch of government.

When I could already read and write as a kid, I became aware of how corruption was SOP at the DPWH. My readers would agree that the likely conclusion would therefore be that it is tolerated by even the highest official of the land. Reports were that applicants for a district engineer (DE) position, and much more, even for regional director (RD), have to hand over huge amounts of cash to the Central Office overlords. But as I’ve been saying, thieves don’t issue receipts.

Obviously, most of the people at DPWH are having a good time filling their pockets with millions, even feeding their families with the dirty money. But since it’s the norm, most DEs and RDs would never care. The serious issue here is how come no one comes out to expose the corruption going on even though the effect on the quality and quantity of the roads and highways the government should be providing is just a shade of what our motorists should be enjoying. The Manila South Road portion from Pagbilao, Quezon to the Bicol Region makes you curse the DPWH to no end. Thanks to its officials.

God bless us there’s Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong of the Mayors 4 Good Governance. Magalong was the former CIDG Chief who revealed why the Mamasapano Massacre happened. With his steadfastness, his appointment as PNP Chief was warmly welcomed.

Last year, Magalong revealed that between 35 and 65 percent of public works project costs went to the pockets of legislators, LGU chiefs, and DPWH officials from the top down to the RDs and DEs.

Lately, on social media, millions of Filipinos learned of the brave mayor’s revelation of overpricing at the DPWH headed by Secretary Manuel Bonoan in the purchase of the “yellow barriers” that line curved portions of highways. It’s good they’re there for safe driving. Also there are the pavement markers or “cat’s eyes” installed on the highways to keep drivers in their lanes even in the darkest night.

Oh, but how much did we spend on these two road safety features? Mayor Magalong found out how much they really cost.

The yellow barriers cost only about P20,000 per meter. But the DPWH paid the contractor P127,320 per meter. So where did the P107,320 per meter go? For the cat’s eyes, the Baguio City mayor said it won’t cost P1,800 per piece, labor and tools included. But taxpayers paid P11,720 for each.

My source at Lazada indicated a price of P88 to P420 for each piece at most. This is even cheaper because, as a former contractor myself, I know that installing it won’t cost more than P150 each. Where did the huge variance go? How many yellow barriers and cat’s eyes were installed nationwide? Give me a computation because no one at DPWH would give me any input.

I can’t say no more except to ask if the government can do anything for the better.

If not, your thoughts are as good as mine, folks. We have a government of syndicates.

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