BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Public works and Highways–Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) vehemently denied the unfounded, unfair and biased allegations of graft and corruption being hurled against the agency by anti-graft and corruption advocates in the implementation of alleged substandard projects.
DPWH-BCDEO District Engineer Rene Zarate acknowledged that as public servants, they should not be onion-skinned when being criticized but if the criticisms are not constructive and simply aimed at ruining the agency’s overall reputation and image, they have to answer the biased tirades against them.
Zarate came out with the statement following an interview with city officials by a La Union-based media group where the DPWH-BCDEO was accused of alleged corrupt practices which were merely based on pure speculations and imaginations.
Further, the DPWH-BCDEO official argued that any wayward accusations and allegations without concrete evidence is aimed at simply ruining the overall reputation and image of the agency in the eyes of the public or which simply means that they are being subjected to trial by publicity.
Zarate pointed out that charges of alleged substandard projects have already been filed before the Ombudsman, thus, it is best to wait for the decision of the graft body on the filed charges instead of trying to preempt the ruling by trying to make unfounded insinuations against the agency.
However, he asserted that the unfounded allegations being continuously hurled against him by city officials will not be a deterrent for him to continue performing his duties and responsibilities to ensure the prosecution of quality infrastructure projects programmed to be implemented in the different parts of the city.
Zarate emphasized that he will continue to adhere to the wise judgement of the appointing authority in the agency who happens to be Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonuan and for as long as he enjoys the trust and confidence of the head of the agency, he will continue to effectively and efficiently perform his mandate amidst the efforts to bring him down and taint a bad image of him in the eyes of the public.
According to him, the DPWH-BCDEO remains committed in providing the public with quality, safe and environmentally-friendly infrastructure projects in the city even if some city officials are trying their very best to unseat him by coming out with unfounded, unfair and biased allegations that remain to be proven to date.
Zarate disclosed that the DPWH-BCDEO already submitted their reply to the charges filed against them before the Ombudsman and one of the attached evidence are the clearances from the Commission on Audit (COA) regional technical services ground stating, among others, that the questioned projects have been fully implemented and that the pinpointed minor defects had been already corrected by the contractors concerned.
DPWH insiders are wondering why there are some city officials who continue to launch a demolition job against the agency when they are simply pursuing their mandate in accordance to what had been provided by Congress for the agency to implement within its area of jurisdiction. No more no less. Contributed article
