Singson orders probe on Leyte road still unfinished after 9 years

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson yesterday ordered a probe on an allegedly questionable spending for a 13-kilometer road project in Leyte, that even after nine years, remains unfinished.

“I want to get to the bottom of this… I cannot figure out why this road remains impassable and useless despite the amount of taxpayers’ money poured into this 13.72-kilometer road,” said Singson, referring to the Burauen-Albuera road.

Singson gave the directive four days after presidential sister Kris Aquino said she was “shocked” upon learning that millions of pesos had been poured into the road project from 2004 to prior to the 2010 elections.

‘“Ay, ang lungkot (How sad). I’m the country’s highest paid individual taxpayer and I’m shocked to see how our taxes were abused,” she said.

Singson said, “I do understand that this road project is a new road opening, but with the amount of money spent on the road section, local residents should have already been using this road, even if it is still on gravel surface. But there is no continuous road to speak.” 

The project reportedly covered two DPWH engineering districts.

According to documents, the government has spent an approximate total amount of P500 million with at least 20 contracts entered into by the DPWH and local contractors in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and yet, the road remains unfinished and cannot be used by local residents until now.

Based on an initial report conducted by the DPWH’s Quality Assurance Unit, some sections of the Burauen-Albuera Road cannot even accommodate any kind of vehicle, not even a motorcycle, because they remain as mountain trail.

There should also be a crossing structure across the Tabgas River in the road’s Albuera section, but there was no such bridge. Some sections are even reportedly now covered with lush vegetation, according to the report. – With Lalaine Jimenea