BATANGAS 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste thanked Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon for removing an Assistant Secretary and a Director IV of Convergence and Technical Services who are contractors after Leviste said on October 16 that multiple appointees in DPWH have links to contractors or are contractors and Dizon committed to conduct an investigation.
The two officials were brought in by Undersecretary Arrey Perez, who resigned from DPWH on October 17, and whom Leviste also confirmed is linked to Construction Workers Solidarity Partylist Representative Edwin Gardiola. Leviste estimates that companies connected with Gardiola have been able to secure over P100 billion in projects from the DPWH.
At Kapihan sa Manila Bay with Marichu Villanueva on the morning of December 3, Leviste presented the media with a letter signed by Dizon rescinding the appointment of the two DPWH officials. Leviste said that he has also spoken with Dizon to confirm that DPWH removed the two contractor-officials who were brought in by Perez.
“Secretary Vince did not know these two were contractors initially, and I thank him for acting quickly once an investigation confirmed this. I also thank Secretary Vince for removing Undersecretary Perez after he attempted to bring Gardiola to him, and after I heard that if you want extra budget, you can talk to Congressman Gardiola who is close to USec Perez from their time in Batangas,” Leviste said.
Leviste added that he would not elaborate anymore on the Assistant Secretary and Director IV who are contractors, or the details of Perez’s bringing Gardiola to Dizon, citing that he already spoke with Dizon that they have been removed from DPWH and confirmed these contractors will not be allowed to meddle in DPWH. Leviste said that Dizon acknowledged that Perez is close to Gardiola but that he will not be allowed to exert influence in the DPWH Central Office.
“The government is full of DPWH contractors, and officials from all over government – not only Congressmen and Senators – try to get insertions. This diverts the budget towards money-making projects like flood control and roads instead of classrooms and hospitals in districts like mine that do not condone buying budgets and bid-rigging,” Leviste said.
Leviste said that investigations are ongoing on an Undersecretary of another agency who became a DPWH contractor with flood control projects after assuming office, as well as officials tagged as proponents in a list of projects from the DPWH Central Office.
Another result of the discussions between Leviste and Dizon has been the lowering of the Construction Material Price Data of DPWH, which DPWH estimates will save P60 billion.
“We have had a very fruitful past few months working with Secretary Vince, and I look forward to working together further to push reforms in the DPWH and the budget process,” Leviste said.
