Probe team formed on Yolanda shelters

MANILA, Philippines - The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has created a special team to look into alleged anomalies in the construction of bunkhouses in areas ravaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda last Nov. 8.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima ordered the investigation on the alleged overpriced and substandard bunkhouses following a directive from presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery Panfilo Lacson.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong said the special investigation team is composed of six investigators who would get assistance from the CIDG regional offices.

Magalong said they have been working on the case after Lacson reported an alleged collusion over the construction of the bunkhouses.

Lacson said that the initial reports he received would be the basis of an investigation into the alleged collusion between a politician and a contractor to make money in the rehabilitation of areas devastated by the typhoon.

He requested not to reveal the identity of the politician yet in the absence of concrete evidence and pending further investigation.

“Maybe overpriced is a misnomer, it is now the subject of an investigation,” said Lacson, who recalled the first time he visited the areas with some experts, engineers and architects, they immediately spotted something wrong in the bunkhouses.

Lacson said the bunkhouses were made of thin plywood and floors and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson had promised to look into it.

He vowed to reveal the names of those involved in the alleged under specification after the CIDG investigation comes up with sufficient evidence to file charges before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Lacson said the international standard of temporary bunkhouse is 3.5 square meters per person, so the 8.64-square meter bunkhouse is good for a childless couple.

He said he is awaiting the outcome of the investigation to get evidence on the alleged collusion.

Lacson said he has been meeting with experts and private sector representatives in preparation for a full blast rehabilitation effort in 171 areas devastated by the typhoon in the Visayas.

He said they would put up private sector multi-donor funds – a private sector initiative that they themselves would manage and the government will have nothing to do with it.

“The only role of my office is to serve as coordinator, to fill up gaps and overlapping. We will guide them where the fund is still needed. More than half of the 24 development areas have been taken by adoption by established companies,” Lacson noted.

He clarified the government will still set the minimum standard on structures to be followed by the private sector.

However, the private sector can still set standards higher than what government has already set.

“For example, the government, through the Department of Public Works and Highway, has set a standard structure which could withstand strong wind of about 250 kilometers per hour and an intensity 9 earthquake,” he noted.

The government does not necessarily have to follow international standards in building bunkhouses, Malacañang said yesterday amid criticisms that the shelters are substandard.

“We are following our standards. We don’t necessarily have to follow the international standards. But because... our concern is safety... they should not be congested,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

He said that from a five-square-meter bunkhouse for a family, it would now be 17.28 square meters per unit in a 12-family bunkhouse rather than 24.

Asked about the fact that it was the first time for Secretary Singson to know about the benchmark for shelters two months after Yolanda hit, Lacierda said that had been resolved with corresponding adjustments.

Lacierda stressed these were temporary shelters and the government had actually been fast in providing bunkhouses rather than make survivors stay in emergency sites such as tents and tarpaulins.

Asked why the modifications were done late when consultations with experts could have been made earlier to avoid wasting time and resources, Lacierda said “it’s just a matter of tearing down a wall” and the concerns would be addressed.

Lacierda added he was able to speak with architect Felino Palafox Jr. and he appreciated that Singson had made the corrections to the unit size of bunkhouses and the “17.28 square meter per unit” was, for him, acceptable.

Palafox also sent a statement to the Palace clarifying that he did not accuse Singson of corruption in the construction of the bunkhouses.

Palafox said he only commented on the shelters for survivors being undersized and substandard based on their international experience.

“Secretary Babes Singson has my trust and confidence. I admire his professionalism when he called me (Tuesday) and admitted he was not made aware of the international standards and he himself went to the disaster (area) to check and initiated to improve the designs and specifications based on international standards,” Palafox said.

DPWH stops building of bunkhouses

Amid reports of irregularities in the construction of bunkhouses in areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda, the DPWH has ordered the suspension of the building of the temporary shelters to change the design of the structures.

Secretary Singson yesterday confirmed that they have temporarily stopped construction of the bunkhouses.

Singson said the suspension of construction was “so we can modify the design and adjust the cost.”

DPWH Undersecretary for regional operations Romeo Momo said that they would wait for their Planning and Technical Service Division to finish with its reconfiguration program before they proceed with the construction.

He added that the DPWH Quality Assurance Unit of the Research and Standard Bureau was also in Eastern Visayas to check and assess the quality of the bunkhouses.

There had been reports that the bunkhouses were overpriced and that substandard materials were used.

Singson had earlier denied the allegations on overpricing and even promised to tender his resignation if the irregularity would be proven.

Each bunkhouse comprised of 24 units for same number of families were completed at a cost of P836,017, lower than the original estimate of P959,000.

The structures would be made of wooden frames, GI sheet roofing, plywood walls, raised flooring and cement footing.

Singson explained that the DPWH was able to cut down the construction costs of bunkhouse that includes common wash and toilet area with the contractors generously waiving the profit margin and overhead expenses.

Senate President Franklin Drilon has expressed his support for Secretary Singson amid the controversy.

Drilon believes that Singson remains as “the most honest, efficient, and decisive public works secretary” he has seen throughout the last few administrations.

“I know for a fact that Sec. Singson would not stand for any shenanigans. He has shown zero tolerance for corruption since day one in office. His integrity and competence are unassailable,” Drilon said in a statement.

Drilon said that it is only under the leadership of Singson that genuine reforms such as improved procurement procedures, as well as competitive and transparent bidding, have been effectively implemented in the department. With Aurea Calica, Evelyn Macairan,Christina Mendez