Only 41 ASEAN lampposts working

Cebu - On top of the close to 200 missing decorative lampposts, the inventory conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways further revealed that only 41 out of the 1,928 units installed in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu City during the 12th Asean summit are actually working.

In an inventory report submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, DPWH regional director Josefino Rigor said that 1,722 decorative lampposts are not working and 165 are said to be missing.

The report also said that 131 units of decorative lampposts were missing in Mandaue City, 11 in Cebu City and 23 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Out of the 520 units installed in Mandaue City only two are working, while 39 out of the 724 that were installed in Lapu-Lapu City are working and none of the 673 that were installed in Cebu City is working.

Another component of the P365-million project that is part of the preparation for the Asean Summit is the installation of the single, double and triple arm streetlights in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. Of the total 447 streetlights installed, 291 were single arm, 151 double arm, and five triple arm.

The DPWH said that only 268 of these streetlights are working while 179 are busted.

The anti-graft office earlier called the DPWH officials to a meeting to discuss how to protect the controversial decorative lampposts and streetlights from pilferage.

During the meeting, Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago said Rigor suggested that the lampposts should be used by the local government units.

Because they have not been properly turned over yet from the contractor, it was suggested that the local governments will be the ones to pay for the electricity and will just deduct the bills from the remaining collectibles of the contractors.

Santiago said she will again call for a meeting with the mayors and contractors to discuss the proposal. The turn over of the project was stalled when allegations on overpricing broke out.

The government already paid more than P100 million for the lampposts but the anti-graft office ordered to freeze the remaining balance of more than P200 million.

The Ombudsman found probable cause to indict the officials involved in the alleged anomalous procurement and have filed at least five graft charges before the Sandiganbayan. It has also ordered the dismissal of the officials involved in the anomaly. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)