DPWH chief asks why Tondo pumping station ‘never worked’
Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official Gerard Opulencia to explain why he should not be sanctioned for the alleged irregularities in Sunog Apog pumping station flood control project in Tondo, Manila.
This came after Dizon, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, inspected the pumping station in Gagalangin, Tondo, on Sept. 24 and found that the P774-million project was found to be dysfunctional five years after its completion.
Based on the show-cause order released on Friday night, Dizon emphasized that they discovered that the Sunog Apong pumping station “has never functioned since its completion in 2020, despite full payment having been made.”
“Instead of mitigating flooding, the facility has exacerbated flooding in the area, with residents reporting significantly worsened water levels,” the DPWH chief likewise said in the show-cause order.
Not enough permits
According to Dizon, the said flood control project did not have enough required building permits and power connections, thus preventing energization by Meralco and raising questions of regulatory compliance.
“An additional P94 million upgrading project was initiated, with further proposals for an additional P200 million, despite the unresolved defects and absence of proof of functionality,” he further pointed out, adding that there was an apparent lack of coordination with the Manila City local government unit for the planning and implementation of the project.
“These circumstances, if left unexplained, may constitute gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, inefficiency, and/or conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, in violation of civil service laws, rules, and regulations,” Dizon said.
With this, the DPWH secretary said Opulencia should submit within five days his written explanation under oath as to “why no administrative disciplinary action should be taken against you in light of the foregoing findings.”
“Failure to submit the required explanation within the prescribed period shall be construed as a waiver of your right to be heard, and this Office shall proceed to resolve the matter based on the evidence and records on hand,” said Dizon.
During the earlier inspection of the Sunog Apog pumping station, Dizon said the construction of the project—which was funded in 2017—began in 2018 and was completed and fully paid for in 2020.
Meanwhile, he lamented that from 2020 until the present, “it has never worked.”
