Capiz prov’l board mulls probe on Divino’s allegations vs 2nd Eng'g district
ROXAS CITY – The Capiz provincial board will investigate the damaging allegations of Engineer Gene Divino against the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd engineering district.
In last Thursday’s regular session, Board Member Winston Advincula moved that Divino will be invited to grace the question hour in the next session to shed light about his allegations.
Advincula said that his move aims to clear the 2nd engineering district of the said issues.
Earlier, Divino accused the DPWH 2nd engineering district of manipulation of contracts and undertaking sub-standard projects.
Documents obtained by The News Today from the internet revealed that Engr. Divino, former DPWH employee who became sub-contractor and supplier of the government, accused certain personnel from 2nd Engineering District of manipulation of contracts for government projects.
Divino has four exposes against the DPWH: 1) that they have a favored contractor in the name of Kirskat Venture owned by Engr. Leodigario Labao; 2) the pakyaw contract are prepared not inside the DPWH but inside the office of Kirskat Venture (of which Divino provided pictures); 3) the construction documents and contract is not properly done and the official documents are not followed where he cited as example the P100 million RO-RO highways which the actual construction cost is lesser then the appropriated amount and 4) there are instances according to Divino that other sub-contractors are involved in “paper” but some of these companies do not even have their own offices and track record in the construction business.
However, Asst. District Engineer Hector Gargoles strongly denied that local contractors manipulate contracts for government projects.
He said that Divino’s allegations hurled against the DPWH are baseless and unfounded.
Gargoles said that Divino’s allegation that the engineering district has only one favored contractor is false as there are other contractors who also undertake projects such as: IBC Construction, Jaruda Construction, Roprim Construction, F. Gurrea Construction and Patrila Builders, all are based in Iloilo.
In fact, he added that there will be a bidding for concreting of roads in the 2nd district in the amount more than P100 million where 31 qualified construction firms will participate on February 28.
Gargoles also clarified that all documents are being prepared inside the DPWH premises not inside the Kirskat as mentioned by Divino. “As far I know, all papers of all pakyaw contracts are prepared here,” Gargoles said.
Gargoles also said that all projects undertaken by the contractors are inspected by the DPWH based on its standard and quality to ensure that projects will correspond the appropriated budget adding that it was approved by the Commission on Audit (COA).
He also stressed that all construction firms are free to bid for projects. He said that once the contractor could not pass the standard quality set by the DPWH, they will ask the contractor to correct their work.