DPWH owes Petron P1 million for fuel

Corruption at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) appeared to be so widespread it affected even the department’s procurement and supply of gasoline, causing it to incur debts of over P1 million with Petron Corp.

DPWH supplies and property division chief Jesus Cruz told The STAR that there were instances when service vehicles of DPWH officials continued to withdraw daily gasoline allowances even as the cars were supposedly undergoing repair.

Daily gas rations are from six to 10 liters, depending on the type of vehicle.

Reports had it that DPWH employees, specifically drivers, were selling the gas coupons to outsiders.

They have stopped providing gasoline to employees as remaining stock was just enough to run the generator in their central office for five hours in case of a power outage.

Cruz said the DPWH central office owes Petron P800,000 in gasoline supply over the past five months, adding that the amount could double because the DPWH’s Bureau of Equipment (BOE), motorpool division, also owes the oil firm about the same amount.

The DPWH maintains two gasoline disbursement centers — one under Cruz’s office and another under BOE.

"The BOE motorpool owes Petron, too. What it has been doing is use our account in procuring gasoline because Petron would not deliver to it long ago," Cruz said.

Dante Osorio, BOE’s officer-in-charge for gasoline procurement, could not be reached for comment.

Meantime, officials and employees entitled to the gas ration buy their fuel with their own money, but reimburse the amount later.

The DPWH expects to settle its obligations with Petron within the week.

Petron, formerly 100 percent government-owned, has been DPWH’s exclusive supplier since the Marcos regime through a presidential letter of instruction.

However, the exclusivity was cut off and supply to DPWH was subjected recently to a public bidding.

Fil-Pride, which operates the Flying V filling stations, won the bidding.