'Realign 25%of CDF for road repairs'

MANILA, Philippines - Newly installed Public Works acting Secretary Victor Domingo yesterday appealed to senators and congressmen to realign 25 percent of their Countryside Development Funds (CDF) or pork barrel for the repair and rehabilitation of major infrastructure damaged by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”

Domingo, on his first day as department secretary, yesterday appealed to legislators and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to help raise and release funds needed to fix destroyed roads, bridges and irrigation systems.

During his three-hour meeting with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) senior officials last Oct. 23, Domingo was “alarmed and shocked” to learn that the agency has no funds to cover the P4.5-billion cost of repair.

He was told that while the DPWH had a P6-billion budget for road maintenance, only P3 billion is left for rehabilitation work. Half of the budget had already been used up for earlier projects financed by credit granted by suppliers and contractors.

“So this is the enormity of my task: So huge is the rehabilitation work but practically no resources. We have to wait for grants from foreign countries. We have to wait for our government to firm up borrowings from the international financing community. But that is not acceptable. We cannot wait forever as the needs demand immediate rehabilitation,” said Domingo.

He also asked the DBM to release in full the P6-billion budget for maintenance so that, after paying off their creditors, they could utilize the remaining amount for rehabilitation work.

He also urged “patriotic” lawmakers from the Senate and House of Representatives to allow one-fourth of their CDF to be spent in disaster-stricken areas. The joint contributions of the senators amounting to P1.2 billion and congressmen worth P4.2 billion would enable them to raise a total of P5.4 billion.

“I know that the congressmen and senators would have sleepless nights if the people from Region 1, 2 and 3 would clamor for the allotment of their CDF,” said the 68-year-old former presidential adviser for new government centers.

He intends to maximize his 249 days as DPWH chief to attend to the badly needed repairs. Along with other agency officials and field personnel, he would visit the affected areas and document the devastation. Hopefully, through pictures and videos to be broadcast in media, they would be able to convince the DBM to release the funds and the lawmakers to give a portion of their CDF.

He also appealed to all the 24,681 DPWH officers, regular employees and casuals to help bring the institution out of the category of a graft and corruption-ridden government agency.

“Don’t you think DPWH should graduate from the category of a corrupt agency as perceived by the people? If only we listen to our conscience, we would be able to graduate from that category…with flying colors.”

He said that despite the stigma attached to the agency, a majority of its employees and officers are honest, hardworking and knowledgeable.

As to the controversial bid rigging of three World Bank-National Road Improvement Maintenance Program (WB-NRIMP) phase 1 projects, it appeared that he would leave it to the proper agencies to address this problem since he has limited time in the department.

He also said “there is no time to reshuffle” field officers.

Domingo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, major in Accounting, from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City and took his Masters in Business Administration also at UP.

Ebdane has more time now with family

Meanwhile, outgoing DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. delivered his farewell speech during turnover ceremonies held at the lobby of the main office.

Ebdane tendered his resignation last Oct. 22 to concentrate on his presidential campaign and spend time with his family.

He said that during the years he spent in government, he was only able to celebrate Christmas with his family thrice.

As a parting jest, Ebdane asked the officers and men whom he praised and reprimanded in the past to forget the bad incidents and help him in his presidential bid.

He also assured his successor that the DPWH is a “highly-professional agency. You do not have to command, no need to give orders. They will do it.”

He is also hoping that Domingo’s stay at the department would not be marred by controversies such as the World Bank and the road users’ tax.

“We have responded to these with full cooperation and sincerity. I hope they let the DPWH focus on building roads and bridges on the ground, instead of sitting for long hours on end in inquiry sessions.”