Erring engineers face PRC license revocation
Erring engineers and other professionals at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may face the permanent revocation of their professional licenses if they are found to have been involved in anomalous infrastructure projects at the public works department.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said an agreement he signed with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chair Charito Zamora on Friday morning would make the arrangement.
According to Dizon, the agreement was in line with President Marcos’ directive to ensure the “legitimate, quality and beneficial” projects being implemented by the DPWH nationwide.
Dizon pointed out that 20 engineers and a certified public accountant (CPA) were tagged as involved in the construction of faulty flood control projects, especially in Bulacan and were included in the complaint he filed at the Office of the Ombudsman last month.
These 20 engineers were the first set of professionals whose licenses were being sought to be revoked by the PRC under the newly signed MOA.
Among the 20 whom Dizon described as the “superstars,” whose licenses are up for revocation, were Henry Alcantara, Brice Ericson Hernandez, Jaypee Mendoza and Paul Duya, who were all earlier dismissed from the DPWH.
Aside from them, the list also included the project engineers and even the cashier, whom Dizon said the DPWH determined as a CPA.
“The evidence we presented [for the revocation] are the cases that we have filed and the COA (Commission on Audit) fraud audit reports, as well as the internal audit service of the DPWH,” Dizon told reporters at a press conference after the MOA signing.
“Again, this is just the beginning. We have more to file with the ICI (Independent Commission for Infrastructure) and all of those will also be turned over for the filing with the PRC based on our memorandum of agreement,” he pointed out.
Cases piling up
Zamora, for her part, explained the PRC’s rules on the revocation of professional licenses, wherein the respondent will be given a period of 15 days to file a reply to the complaint, followed by a position paper, which has to be submitted within another 15 days.
But this time, she assured that their rules have been amended to expedite the process of revoking one’s professional license.
“And this is really a heavy case to deal with, because the Filipino people are seeking accountability and with the criminal charges filed against them, this is a lot heavier,” Zamora said.
The controversial construction firm Sunwest Inc., linked to former Ako Bicol party list Rep. Elizaldy Co was among contractors facing bid-rigging complaints. DPWH officials and employees are also among those facing charges with Sunwest Inc.
This was on top of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s move, asking the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend filing of graft complaints against Co and 17 others, including DPWH officials and Sunwest, over an allegedly substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.
Also, the DPWH, named in another complaint, Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp., SYMS Construction Trading, St. Timothy Construction Corp. and officials and employees of the DPWH in connection with flood control projects unearthed during congressional hearings.
