By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — Dr. John J. Chiong, Founder & President of Task Force Kasanag International (TFKI), on Monday (Sept. 30) revealed the alleged anomalous construction of the PHP8-billion Panguil Bay Bridge project in Mindanao.
In a press conference at Max’s Restaurant in Quezon Memorial Circle, Dr. Chiong said that the Panguil Bay Bridge project started with an approved budget of PHP4.9 billion, of which PHP4.2 billion will be funded from Loan Agreement and PHP586 million funded through the Philippine National Budget.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. inaugurated the PHP8.03-billion Panguil Bay Bridge on Sept. 28, 2024, which reduces travel time between the provinces of Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte from around two hours to just seven minutes.
Dr. Chiong said that during the inauguration, the project cost has been announced to have ballooned to PHP8.03 billion.
“Saan na manggagaling ang additional budget?” Chiong asked.
He noted that the temporary road worth US$20 million was never implemented but was collected in an anomalous system called “savings” which will be divided among contractor and DPWH officials.
Chiong stressed that the environmental protection was during the bidding strongly emphasized as the criteria justifying the bloated project cost.
During actual construction, he said “no such measures were implemented. Yet, again, these were collected as, ‘accomplishments'”
The TFKI president pointed out that the fish pond which is considered unsuitable materials, and should be excavated, removed and then filled with suitable materials.
“To save cost, this was again not implemented, but was collected as accomplishment, and even justified variation order, thus bloating project cost,” Chiong said.
According to him, this increase is without the benefit of public bidding, nor public disclosures.
“Clear discrepancies from initial budget and actual expenditures show billions of pesos unaccounted,” he said.
Despite TFKI’s demands for information, the DPWH and Malacanang have refused to disclose the documents related to the project’s expenditures.
“Why are these crucial details being kept under wraps? Chiong asked.
The TFKI president said that it raises the alarming question: Is Filipino taxpayer money now being treated as the personal funds of high-ranking officials?
