Ebdane to form team to review World Bank bid rigging report

MANILA, Philippines - Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday admitted that he had a copy of the World Bank (WB) fact-finding committee report and that he would form a technical and legal committee to review the reports on bid-rigging of WB-funded projects in the country.

He said there is still a need to conduct further study to identify those behind the attempt to manipulate the bidding in three WB-National Roads Improvement and Management Program (NRIMP) phase 1 projects worth $33 million, if there was collusion, and who should be charged administratively.

He said that the first Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) fact-finding committee chaired by Assistant Secretary Jaime Pacanan conducted a three-month investigation but this is still not enough “since this only covered the facts or what transpired.”

“There is still a need to conduct a legal and technical investigation. Actually, I approved the recommendations of the first committee, and there is a need to conduct an extensive investigation,” Ebdane said.

Among those who would again be called in the probe are three retired project directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)-Project Management Office – Lope Adriano, Baliamen Mamaente, and Mario Bandelaria.

Ebdane said Pacanan might again be tapped to head the follow-up team since he has a background in law.

The secretary also clarified that contrary to earlier reports that the committee submitted a 30-page report, it consisted of only three pages, as the other pages were mere annexes.

The DPWH is conducting an investigation of the alleged anomaly on request of the Office of the Ombudsman.

However, Ebdane lamented that the controversy was only being highlighted in the media, as the three controversial WB projects, allegedly rigged, never pushed through.

“The question is how can there be a violation of the law when the $33 million was not released. The funding was set aside. Actually, there was no crime.”

The failed WB biddings reportedly happened two years ago, for projects located in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Surigao.