The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) relieved the project engineer and all personnel assigned to a collapsed flood control project in the province of Oriental Mindoro, DPWH Regional Director Engr. Gerald Pacanan announced on Sunday, August 17.
The regional director immediately visited Oriental Mindoro, a day after Governor Humerlito Dolor discovered that the collapsed flood control projects may have been substandard.
Pacanan and his team proceeded to one of the damaged road dikes in Barangay Mulawin in Naujan town. He said that the DPWH’ fact-finding team is still investigating the project, even with the firing of the engineer and his personnel.
While inspecting these projects, regional director Pacanan told media that the fact-finding team is an independent body composed of lawyers and technical experts and all projects in Mimaropa will be investigated.
Mimaropa is composed of the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque and Palawan.
“Lahat po ng proyekto natin sa buong Mimaropa iimbestigahan para makita kung sino ang may pananagutan. Kung may pananagutan ang contractor, lalabas po yun sa imbestigasyon. Kung may pananagutan ang empleyado mismo ng DPWH, lalabas din po sa imbestigasyon. Wala po tayong sisinuhin, wala po tayong sasantuhin,” director Pacanan told media in a televised interview on Sunday.
Pacanan inspected all the collapsed flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro but said he could not yet confirm if substandard materials were used.
“Ang DPWH po, particularly ang DPWH Mimaropa, kami po talaga ay nag-oobserve sa pinakamataas na quality, ng standard, ng efficiency, transparency at saka walang tolerance sa corruption,” he said assuring the public that those at fault will be held accountable.
