Ping flags double appropriations, overlapping in DPWH projects for 2021

Sen. Panfilo Lacson bared early Thursday overlapping and double appropriations in several infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways for 2021.

In his interpellation of the DPWH’s proposed 2021 budget, Lacson noted at least six projects with what “appears to be a double appropriation.

One of these projects is the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road (Bago Aplaya Times Beach Roxas Ave) Davao City: In the 2021 GAB, there’s an appropriation of P1.791 billion for it, and another appropriation amounting to P4.049B in another part of the GAB.

“We’d like to get an explanation because this appears to be a double appropriation, only 1 item. There’s no sectioning. The description of the items is the same. It appears that it’s only one project,” Lacson said.

A second is the Major Mane to Kennon Road Bypass Road in Baguio City, with two items involving P50M and P3M.

The third is the Iguig Bypass Road in Cagayan, with one allocation worth P1.91M, and another worth P50M. Others include:

* Balagtas Flyover, Batangas City: P81.33M and P85M.
* Construction of MPB including site development, Brgy Carmay East, Rosales, Pangasinan: P127.5M and P50M
* Construction of convention center, Ozamiz City Misamis Occidental: P62M and P112.377M.

Lacson also questioned overlapping projects including a stretch of the Surigao del Sur Boundary-Davao Oriental Coastal Road K1635+165 to K1635+210 (45 meters costing P12.1M), overlapping with the stretch from K1635+167 to K1635+247.

He said what is interesting here is that the P12.1M part covers 45 meters, costing more than the 80-meter stretch costing P1M.

Another overlapping project involves the Paco-Roxas-Arakan Valley Jct Davao-Bukidnon Road K1640+100 to K1640+833 (P50M) and the Paco-Roxas-Arakan Valley Jct Davao-Bukidnon Road K1640+453 to K1640+617 (P30M).

Meanwhile, Lacson scored the modifications to projects due to poor planning, in some cases resulting in a significant decrease in physical targets of up to 70-80 percent.

He cited the asphalt overlay along Olongapo-Bugallon Road, worth P75.1M. The physical target was brought down from 39.116 lane km to 7.98 lane km – a difference of 31.136 lane km.

Yet, the unit cost went up from P1.9M in the 2020 GAA to P7.567M as modified. “A unit cost increase of 298% sa modification and physical target reduction of 79%? Mukhang napakalaki yata niyan,” Lacson said.

He also questioned the construction of road slope protection in the Pili-Tigaon-Albay Boundary Road, worth P125M.

“The physical target decreased by 76.76%, while unit cost increased by 330%. This is under the 2020 GAA,” he said, adding the slope protection’s unit cost per square meter in the 2020 GAA was P5,530.47, but was modified to a whopping P23,801.30.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)