DPWH readies more Mindoro infra raps

 A new set of cases will be filed against a contractor and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in Mimaropa over allegedly substandard flood control projects in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon disclosed.

Dizon’s pronouncement comes a day after Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor revealed that another section of the road dike along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River had collapsed, contributing to the severe flooding that affected the towns of Naujan and Victoria in December last year.

He said that this is the same area where the supposedly substandard flood control project of Zaldy Co-linked Sunwest Inc. was built, in a different segment.

But this time, the contractor for the two flood control projects, which cost P420 million, has been identified as New Big Four J.

Suspicions confirmed

“Our suspicion that the whole stretch of the project was anomalous was confirmed when Governor Dolor discovered it,” Dizon said, adding that this is what I am saying, the cases are multiple, Part 2, but with a different contractor. New charges will be filed. There are people from DPWH. I saw the papers that include the former regional director (Gerald) Pacanan’s signature,” he added.

The DPWH secretary said the first order of business is to ask the contractor to repair the damaged structure, as it is still under warranty.

“The project was completed, but it was damaged; thus, there is a need for them to direct the contractor to repair it. Yung New Big Four J, today, papadalhan na natin ng demand letter to repair. The estimate is that more than P20 million worth of repairs will be needed,” he added.

Dizon maintained that the project should be repaired before the next rainy season comes.

However, even if the contractor fixes the issue, Dizon said a criminal case will still likely be filed.

“Substandard. The issue is different if damaged and different also if substandard, thus cases should be filed since the sheet is only three meters, just like in Sunwest, so there should be an investigation,” Dizon noted as he referred to the length of the sheet piles installed, which are supposed to be 12 meters long based on the DPWH design.

Investigators will also look into the contractor’s alleged close ties to former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, another central figure in the flood control corruption mess.