Congresswoman-elect Lucy Torres-Gomez could face stormy 1st year in office

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Congresswoman-elect Lucy Torres-Gomez, who will be taking her seat in Congress by July 1, could have a stormy first year in office as she grapples with “problematic” infrastructure projects left by the outgoing administration and favored contractors.

One of the campaign platforms of the Gomezes is to review all the projects implemented in the fourth district and assess its implementation, whether or not these have been successfully complied with.

During the campaign, the couple Richard and Lucy received reports that some projects were “suspended” with the 15-percent “mobilization funds” already released.

An initial inventory of the projects obtained from a reliable source showed that some projects could be considered problematic. It also showed that most of the contracts have been awarded to only around four contractors, two of whom “borrowed” licenses to operate.

Among these projects are the “replacement of Tagaytay Bridge Phase I” and the “construction of Tagaytay Bridge and Approaches Phase II” in Kananga, Leyte which have been suspended since Jan. 1, 2009 and March 23, 2009, respectively.

The project amounts are P14.464 million and P28.323 million, respectively.

The winning contractor is Yoyen Enterprises, registered to a certain Romulo Trangia but is known to be owned by Engr. Violeta Codilla, daughter-in-law of outgoing Rep. Eufrocino Codilla Sr.

In a phone interview, Engr. Ricardo Odita, district engineer of the Leyte Engineering district, admitted having headaches over these “problematic projects.”

He said that he has received at least five calls about the Tagaytay Bridge repair from the town mayor, inquiring about the projects’status.

The town’s mayor, Elmer, is another Codilla, the congressman’s son and brother-in-law of the contractor.

Odita allegedly said that Elmer reprimanded him for not hammering on the contractor to implement the project.

In turn, Odita said he asked the mayor to help him out in addressing this concern, considering that the firm involved is owned by his in-law.

The district engineer said he has also called and written Engr. Violeta appealing to her to finish the project and he always gets a “yes” answer but with no definite time frame.

Among other projects of Yoyen Enterprises that have been suspended by the DPWH for various reasons are the construction and road opening of Casilda-San Isidro Road in Merida, Leyte; construction of the Palompon-Matag-ob Road and the concreting of the Merida-Lundag-Puting Bato-Consolacion in Merida, Leyte.

Meantime, Torres-Gomez said she’d rather wait until she is formally installed in office before she makes any comment on the alleged problematic projects.