Ex-district engineer denies substandard projects
ROXAS CITY – Former District Engineer Orlando Panaguiton of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) strongly denied there were substandard projects implemented during his stint as alleged by his former employee Mr. Gene Divino.
“It is not also true that 60 % to 70 % goes to SOP (grease money) as alleged because if it is true then I should be rich now,” Panaguiton said.
Panaguiton, who retired as District Engineer at DWPH in 1995, now engage in the buy and sell of fingerlings.
He said all the projects passed through bidding and were checked by DPWH inspectors.
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 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, in an earlier interview 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.