‘Bong’ Revilla to probe unfinished road projects

Neophyte Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., exercising his newfound power as chairman of the Senate public works committee, said yesterday he would investigate unfinished road projects in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

The basis for the investigation is Resolution 31, which he himself filed.

Revilla said unfinished public works projects such as roads and bridges cause a lot of traffic and other inconvenience on the public and additional cost on the part of the government.

He said he would like to find out why many projects are awaiting completion and how much is the cost on taxpayers.

He said usually, contractors seek price adjustments for projects that take a long time to finish.

He noted that even if such roads or bridges are funded by soft loans and official development assistance or ODA, there is a cost that the government incurs in case completion of these projects is delayed.

Revilla revealed that in Metro Manila alone, out of 1,218 projects programmed for last year, only 743 have been completed.

He said among the projects that are still to be completed and which are causing a lot of inconvenience on the public are the Katipunan-Boni Serrano interchange in Quezon City, La Huerta bridge in Parañaque City, Sevilla bridge in Mandaluyong City, and Tullahan bridge in Valenzuela City.

He said he would also look into reports that many projects are ending up in the hands of unqualified contractors and subcontractors.

He vowed to expose public works officials and contractors involved in rigged bidding.

Revilla inherited the Senate committee on public works from his former senator-father who finished his two terms last June 30.

But before bowing out as a lawmaker, Ramon Revilla Sr. asked Senate President Franklin Drilon to give the chairmanship of the public works committee and the committee on labor and employment to his senator-son.

Revilla Jr. is the youngest member of the Senate.