bo engineering district must be spared

We’ve been through a lot of catastrophes in our lives and every time one comes, we quiver in fear. Remember Typhoon Yolanda that hit Leyte and the Tremor that quake Bohol?  These were both devastating that in the aftermath, every time clouds darkened, Leyteños shiver.  Same was true in Cebu in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette on December, 2022.

Today, however, it seems that there is a complete reversal. In fact, some are wishing for these to happen. Why? To some of us, they truly felt that for as long as these happen the clamor for accountability and jail time for perpetrators of these decades-old plundering will persist. Yes, because even in just heavy downpours the streets turn into rivers; plazas like Lanao Lake; and a bunch of shanties in low-lying areas like Camiguin’s sunken cemetery.

Indeed, the emotions were poured out last Sunday. Except for a pocket of untoward incidents in Manila perpetrated by some juvenile thugs, the trillion-peso march was largely successful. In fact, it went beyond expectation. More importantly, it was able to send the message across. That the entire population is clamoring for accountability. That the perpetrators (whether politicians, government employees and contractors) must languish in jail and their loots returned to the government’s treasury.

And as allegations of biases in the investigation on both the House of Representatives and the Senate mount, the former ceased their initiatives forthwith and the latter seemingly accelerated. And the recent admissions of bribes and loots just justified its relevance. While the names of the personalities involved in the mess were expected, the extent by which government’s treasury was plundered was way beyond imagination. Yet, probably, we just have to keep our emotions in check as more revelations will certainly come as the investigations go farther south.

There is one concern though that these investigations (ICI and Senate) must address, the political divide. This is a big possibility as once the investigation of Bulacan’s flood control project is over, the polarization might just influence its direction, well, literally, especially in the Senate. As Marcoleta brings in his own set of witnesses and Lacson (through his staff and connections) continues to search for evidences (and summons potential culprits who may bring relevant information), expect that investigations will go extreme north in Region 1 (Marcos’ turf) and down south to Davao (Dutertes’ bailiwick).  In the process, the provinces in Central Visayas, Western Visayas and Negros Island Region will be left behind.

Lest we forget, these ghosts and substandard projects (past and present) that cost us billions, are scattered in several districts all over the country. Incredibly, most of these projects are undertaken by those mentioned by President Marcos’ top fifteen (15) contractors of flood control projects. For instance, apart from the known multiple projects around Cebu Province, a project signage (supposedly, a road project indicating QM Builders as the contractor) recently found by some riders in the mountain area of Talisay City, Cebu, simply reinforces the fact that QM Builders is a dominant player in the Visayas. Such dominance is further confirmed by a Tamogong River Control Structure project in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

Likewise, apart from the numerous projects all over the country, the Discaya family has a Shore protection/Seawall project in Brgy. Okiot, Bais City, Negros Oriental with a contract price of P95,510,672.17. Supposedly started in April, 2023, this should have been completed in March, 2024 or within three hundred twenty-nine (329) days as stipulated in the contract. Today, however, for the residents of Brgy. Okiot, Bais City, it doesn’t look completed. Worse, many believed that the project is inappropriate.

These observations do not only obtain in Bais City but mere representations of what prevail throughout the country. Honestly, this is not difficult to understand. At the point of view of management alone, if vetted straightforwardly, these contractors (Discayas, etc.) are bound to fail. Why? With their relative sizes, how can they undertake and manage these multiple projects spread throughout the country effectively.

Thus, we may ask, are they undertaking all these projects by themselves? Former Bulacan 1st District Acting District Brice Hernandez had an answer to that. He could be a good representation for the DPWH engineers of his kind.

What about the lawmakers? Aren’t they undertaking some projects themselves too?