Senator Tulfo pushes for unified DPWH system to avoid ghost flood control projects

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Erwin Tulfo is pushing for a unified project monitoring system in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after inaccurate grid coordinates exposed alleged ghost flood control projects.

Tulfo, vice chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, raised concerns over inconsistencies between the Multi-Year Programming and Scheduling (MYPS) system and the Project and Contract Management Application (PCMA).

“It seems po na hindi reliable ang MYPS coordinates. There are certain inconsistencies. Kasi po parang medyo magulo eh. Meron tayong MYPS, merong ika nga para sa PCMA. Ano ba talaga? Hindi ba pa pwedeng isa na lamang na coordinates?” Tulfo asked.

“Kasi magulo ito—through MYPS, we identify the project. Through PCMA, we monitor the project. So, hindi ata tama na magkaiba ang coordinates sa MYPS at PCMA,” he added.

The senator emphasized that having two separate systems could create opportunities for corruption.

“Habang may mga grey areas tayo na ganito, yung mga malilikot ang isip, nakakapag-isip ng how to make money because there's a grey area. Dala-dalawa po yung ikang coordinates natin. Pero kung iisa lamang po ito, di wala hong kawala,” he said.

Responding to Tulfo, DPWH Usec. Ricardo Bernabe III agreed on the need for a single planning and monitoring system.

“Sobrang agree po kami dyan. Tamang-tama po yung inyong sinabi. Kaya nga po meron po kami ang mga reporma ngayon to implement itong mga bagong systems, to improve the systems. In fact, meron nga po kami ng foreign assisted project to reform this application para nga po isa na lang ang coordinates na gamit po natin,” Bernabe said.

Bernabe added that the department will also launch a transparency portal and employ satellite imaging to monitor projects and reduce human intervention.

During the hearing, Tulfo urged DPWH to speed up verification of alleged ghost flood control projects across the country. “‘Yan po ang nirereklamo ng mga kababayan natin. Wala pong nahuhuli, wala pang nakukulong. Yun pala, may problema tayo… sa mga wrong coordinates kaya kailangan i-double check po natin,” he said.

“Habang tumatagal po ito, magkakaroon ng duda yung mga tao na baka may tinatakpan tayo sa sobrang tagal. And I'm sure you've heard of the words or phrase that justice delayed is justice denied. Sa sobrang tagal po nito, ika nga, baka may mga ma-abswelto, magka-aregluhan dahil sa sobrang bagal ho,” Tulfo added.

Bernabe confirmed that the verification of the 421 alleged flood control projects is now almost complete.

Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida reiterated Tulfo’s call for the DPWH to release the verified project list so the DOJ can begin building cases against other individuals involved in the flood control scandal.

-Paraluman News