Architect Palafox: I never called DPWH chief corrupt
MANILA, Philippines - Architect Felino Palafox, Jr. backtracked on his earlier comments in connection with controversies surrounding the government bunkhouse projects for typhoon victims.
In a statement on Wednesday, the famed urban planner said that he never accused the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its chief of being corrupt.
"In the light of some news that may make it appear I'm accusing DPWH of corruption in the building of bunkhouses, I'd like to clarify that I didn't make such accusations," Palafox said.
DPWH has been plagued with allegations of overpricing in the construction of temporary bunkhouses for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda as Palafox revealed his observations that the shelters are not at par with accepted guidelines.
"I only commented on the shelters for survivors being undersized and substandard based on our international experience and standards," Palafox said.
He earlier criticized the designs as lacking in terms of safety and decency for the thousands of disaster-stricken families who lost their homes last November. The shelters, he said, also violate the building code.
"What I saw is not 'building back better.' I hope it is not just a slogan," Palafox said in a previous report.
The architect, however, also said on Wednesday that he admired DPWH Secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson for admitting that he did not know about the international criteria for the construction projects.
"Secretary Babes Singson has my trust and I admire his professionalism when he called me yesterday and admitted he was not made aware of the international standards," Palafox said.
Related story: Palafox: The architect as nation builder
He also defended Singson from critics, who sees the secretary as the person behind the alleged mess.
"I hope and pray that he will not resign and maintains his role as DPWH Secretary. I had worked with him before when he was Chairman (of the Philippine Bases Conversion and Development Authority) with no corruption," he said.
"He is a professional and a gentleman. We need him for our nation-building," he said.
Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, had said that he has ordered an investigation on the supposed substandard construction of the bunkhouses.
Lacson also denied an earlier report that the bunkhouses are being probed for allegedly being overpriced.
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