MIWD exec denies anomaly over P207 M rehab fund
Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) Interim Manager Edwin Reyes denied insinuations relative to the alleged "irregularity" in the water district's P207 million rehabilitation fund. The fund was sourced out from a loan at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and portion of it was the water district's equity in 2004.
Reyes's reaction was in wake of text messages circulating in the media about the P207 million rehabilitation fund. Part of the text message reads "MIWD implements water rationing what happen(ed) to the P207 million improvement and rehabilitation of water supply project." The text unknown text sender also urged that the matter be brought to the Ombudsman for investigation.
Reyes explained that the P207 million is for the rehabilitation of the water district system. The fund is allocated into two aspects. Part of the fund is intended for the procurement of goods for internal generated plants and for the procurement of goods and services for the projects. Of the P207 million, P186 million was sourced out from the Asian Development Bank loan and the remaining P21 million is the equity of the water district.
The P207 million fund covers the rehabilitation programs not only in Iloilo City but in other 11 sub-projects in the different municipalities in the province. Among those 11 municipalities are Maasin, Cabatuan, Oton, Sta. Barbara and Leganes, said Reyes.
He explained that even before he assumed office the bidding for the procurement of goods and services were already made. Reyes assumed as interim manager in 2005 and the bidding was made in last quarter of 2004. The bidding process was facilitated by two sets of Bids and Awards Committee (BAC). All the documents are in order and the bidding was made above board, Reyes said.
Reyes said the BAC 1 covers the procurement of goods for the internal generated plants and BAC 2 was for the procurement of goods and services for the projects. The implementation of the projects are made through administration. All the people behind the bidding of the projects are competent, knowledgeable of the laws and have strictly observed the rules on government procurement.
Part of the expenditures are already cleared by the Commission on Audit (CoA). There are also several bidders who won and contracted the projects. There were five contractors that got the contract for the procurement of goods and services for the projects. Reyes only identified four of the contractors as Patrila Builders, Negros Rota Trail, Chedmaryl Construction and Bunny Construction.
Reyes added that the inspectors assigned to monitor and check the project strictly imposed what is called for by the law. The contractor could not get and receive the payment unless cleared by (CoA). The contractors have satisfied the requirements in the implementation of the projects.
The project implementation is still ongoing and expected to be completed May of 2007. The implementation of the projects was hampered especially in the city after the city government requested to cease the work because of the Dinagyang celebration. The entire project is supposed to be completed in December 2006, said Reyes.