THE controversial flood control project in Barangay Mulawin, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. (Jerry Alcayde)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – Department of Public Works and Highways-Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan has relieved the project engineer and his staff following complaints on the structural design and quality of a multi-million flood control project in Naujan town.
He said the relief order was effective immediately as he announced that he appointed a certain Engr. Maro to supervise the P220-million project in Barangay Mulawin where a portion of a road dike project collapsed due to alleged poor design and substandard materials.
Pacanan said he has directed District Engineers Salvador Abad and Annielyn Padullo to submit weekly reports about the status of the protection dike project until its completion.
“I am relieving the project engineer as one way of promoting transparency on our job as well as accountability on and integrity of the project,” Pacanan told Mindoro-based media in an interview at the project site.
Pacanan said that based from their calculation, 750,000 linear meters would cost at least P750 million which, if computed further, will mean that P1-billion is needed for 1.4 kilometers.
The allocation varies depending on the actual needs because there are barangays which are more prone to floodings, he said.
Pacanan said that nobody will be exempted from an investigation which will last for 15 days starting Monday, Aug. 18.
Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito A. Dolor found that the project contractor used very poor quality materials during an inspection in Barangay Mulawin on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Dolor said he is puzzled why the project passed the scrutiny of the Quality Inspection Unit of the DPWH and the Commission on Audit (COA).