DPWH spent P1-M for vehicle repairs

Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spent more than P1 million for the upkeep of three service vehicles in Mindanao during nine months of work in 2002.

And the vehicles may no longer be in use as the DPWH had started renting cars for its project consultants at the questionable sum of P40,000 a month.

A document obtained by The STAR showed that the P360,000 was paid to maintain each of the three vehicles used in 2002 in several projects in Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.

The type and model of the vehicles were not mentioned in the document.

Public Works and Highways Assistant Secretary Rafael Yabut said the DPWH was indeed renting cars instead of buying them, but that a sum lower than P40,000 is spent in projects in and around Metro Manila.

"Yes, it’s true," he said in an interview. "This is usually part of the contract agreement with out foreign lenders."

But sources said the projects sometimes last for several months, and the cost of renting the vehicles skyrockets closer to its actual purchase value.

The DPWH deemed it better to rent vehicles since it may be more expensive to keep and maintain them, the sources added.

Recently, an anomaly was discovered wherein DPWH vehicles were repaired in 2001 at an astronomical cost of P180 million.

The "exhorbitant, repetitive and ghost repairs" of vehicles at the DPWH have reportedly been going on since 1999, and more than a year later, the investigation has yet to be concluded.

Meanwhile, acting Public Works and Highways Secretary Florante Soriquez has named Yabut DPWH spokesman and assigned to Undersecretary Raul Asis the job of media liaison.

Soriquez is reportedly set to launch a "media blitz" to dispel persistent rumors of corruption at the DPWH. — Jose Aravilla