A project package worth about P170 million was released recently to the Third district of Camarines Sur mostly for regravelling projects whose implementation appears to be timed immediately before the election.
Sources said an influential big-time contractor from Albay maneuvered the release of the extraordinarily big amount several times bigger than the normal maintenance outlay for national roads in the Third district.
The figure is way above the yearly ceiling of P70 million for the countrywide development fund (CDF) of the district congressman.
The Albay contractor is the same person who reportedly secured P200 million for desilting projects here in Bicol, mostly in Camarines Sur which are supposed to be implemented now.
Desilting projects are frowned upon because actual work accomplished could not be easily quantified and are consequently potential sources of corruption.
In the invitation to prequalify to bid published by the DPWH Third Engineering District in the province on November 6, 2006, 12 projects involving rehabilitation and improvement of existing roads were each allocated identical budget of Php14,475,000.00 or a total of Php 173,700,000.00.
Since the projects involved rehabilitation those segments along Caramoan Peninsula Road now called Felix A. Fuentebella Highway would merely be regravelling works which are habitually tainted with corruption.
One project involves desilting of Lagonoy River which does not need to be dredged and for which it is impossible to bring in a dredging equipment.
As planned, project segments appear to have duplications and therefore susceptible to irregularities, observers said.
Moreover, the uniform amounts on the same road route may be intended to mislead the public, it was also pointed out by observers.
Projects identified under the mysterious windfall for the Third District that are supposed to be implemented now include:
- Rehabilitation and improvement of Tigaon-Goa-San Jose- Lagonoy-Guijalo Road via San Vicente Road,Php 14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of Tigaon-Goa- San Jose-Lagonoy-Guijalo Road via San Vicente road. Php 14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of Teres-Caramoan-Guijalo Road,Php 14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation of Teres-Caramoan- Guijalo Road , Php 14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of the Lagonoy- Presentacion Road Php 14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of the Teres-Garchitorena Road,Php14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of Tigaon-Goa-San Jose- Lagonoy-Guijalo via San Vicente Road,Php14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of theTinambac –Siruma Road.Php 14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of the Tigaon-Albay boundary Road Php14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation of the San Rafael- Mampirao-San Jose Road Php14,750,000.00;
- Rehabilitation and improvement of the Goa-Digdigon-San Isidro Road Php 14,750,000.00; and
- Dredging of Lagonoy River Php 14,750,000.00.
