DPWH can’t furnish docs to Capiz SP, says Gavia
DUMARAO, Capiz — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 2nd engineering district could not furnish any documents relative to the infrastructure projects in the second district without clearance from the central office.
Engr. Nilo Gavia, district engineer, said that his office could not release any program of works to the Capiz Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) without a proper protocol.
According to him, any documents that would be released by his office might be used against them by the central office and they could be held administratively liable for doing so.
Asked about his reaction on the SP declaration that he is “persona non grata”, he said that he has not yet received any document regarding the issue.
Gavia, who has been mum over the issue, broke his silence after this writer interviewed him during the blessing of Lupgupan bridge in this town last Saturday morning.
The bridge with a budget of P20 million was made possible through the efforts of 2nd District Cong. Fredenil Castro.
To recall, Gavia was recently declared “persona non grata” by the SP for ignoring their invitation for several times.
The SP has sent several invitations for Gavia to appear in their session to shed light on the allegations of Mr. Gene Divino but Gavia failed to honor the invitation.
Months ago, Gavia promised the SP that he will furnish them a copy of program of works of all projects of the 2nd district and will lead the board members to conduct “quality test” on the alleged substandard road projects in Capiz to disprove the allegation of Mr. Divino.
Divino accused the 2nd engineering district that the P100 million Central Line National Highway Project or roll-on, roll-off project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sub-standard.
Divino also urged the SP to investigate transactions at the Capiz Second Engineering District and made the following allegations:
Only one contractor, Kirskat Ventures Construction, gets all the projects; Contracts, particularly “pakyaw,” are prepared not at the DPWH 2nd Engineering District Office in Dumalag town but inside the office of Kirskat Ventures in Roxas City; and other subcontractors are involved in “paper,” but some do not have offices and track record in the construction business.
However, Engr. Hector Gargoles then strongly denied that Kirskat Venture Construction monopolized the projects adding that some 8 construction firms also have projects in the second districts.
Gargoles said that there was no such “pakyaw” contract prepared at the Kirskat Venture in Roxas City nor subcontractors who are involved in “paper” in the projects.
On his part, Gavia said all the road projects in Capiz are of good quality and assured that all projects in the second district all met the standard prescribed by the DPWH.
Divino also sued 4 engineers of the 2nd district engineering district of Capiz before the Ombudsman in the Visayas.
However, an engineer told The News Today (TNT) on condition of anonymity that Divino, who is now under the care of a politician, sued engineers to destroy the image of 2nd District Cong. Fredenil Castro. Castro’s wife, Jane, is running for congresswoman for the said district in the 2010 election.
Meanwhile, Gavia was promoted as full-fledge district engineer while four engineers who were earlier sued by Mr. Divino were also promoted one rank higher by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central office. They are Engrs. Hector Gargoles, Buenric Tolentino, Emil Recio, and Ramonito Lozada.
Gargoles, who confirmed such promotions, told TNT that their promotions were on the way before the controversies and accusation hurled against them.