Thursday, May 08, 2008 Probe up vs Provincial Engineer's Office
AT THE height of the controversy involving the P4.9-million site development project for the new provincial jail in Tabunan, Bago City, some people at the Provincial Engineer's Office (PEO) are being investigated.
Governor Isidro Zayco disclosed Wednesday that the probe will center on who among the people at the PEO gave permission to R.A. Construction for some ground movements in the area reportedly allotted for the agri-demo farm of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and not for the proposed new jail, Zayco said.
Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan clarified that works in the Tabunan area are not within the jail site but in the 26-hectare agri-demo farm.
Tabianan also said the province has not paid a single centavo to R.A. Construction for its ground works.
Aside from the present brouhaha, Zayco also wants to probe the alleged favoritism by some PEO engineers to certain contractors.
"Actually, investigation is now ongoing at the PEO," Zayco told Capitol reporters in his regular press conference Wednesday morning.
Zayco did not say when he would be concluding his probe against PEO personnel.
Sun.Star Bacolod tried but failed to contact Provincial Engineer Leoncio Garrucho, both in his office and mobile phone, as of press time.
Zayco stressed he wants to get into the bottom of the present controversy and vowed to raise the issue if in case R.A. Construction wins the bidding for the three items included in the site development project for the new provincial jail.
The three items to be bid out on May 8 include the dakal-dakal (sand and gravel), labor and equipment.
"Of the three items, there could also be three winning bidders but it's also possible that only two or one will win depending on their price bid later," Zayco said, adding: "I've already instructed the Provincial Bids and Awards Committee (Pbac) to go on with the bidding and the PEO to prepare the program of works for the project." (Erwin Ambo Delilan)
