Palace, DBM downplay Andaya

claim on payabies to cbntraciors

By Nat Mariano
THE Paiace ol Monday,hlugged ofi.rhe claim olHouse
appropriarrons
chrirmarr Rep. Rol.rndo Anday:r.,r. ,r," ,f ,.''e-;;J;;.,,i"
::,]l,ll!*
idllEu r.o pay severat collltacrors more lhnrr pl00 billiurr jds-l duj
toa tompt system', within the Departnent of Budg;t;n; )edt
N,i"ft;:"
On Frida5. Andaya said ihe goverrunenr srrlj
_ owes pl00 billion
ro pn\ ate (o[lmclors who did work for rhe Dcpartnrenr
of public
s. He oaid. Ltris i"ir,,*, i,,rJ dt,"",,*g.
Y?:l:
porenria"1"1^115-ll ", frorn prrticiparirrg
I cor rLraciors
.
i" ,fr.'O,,i.n. oO_
m,nr.trarron-s Rrrild, BLrijd, Buijd inliastructure nrou.,-
inliastrucnrre program.
'This garg.uuuan arnorrnl of puvrUf", fru, ,Jo.'"r_
nated dn old iysletn lhal lbrce)
tpUblic u orksl con_
laaton
t: colgh^ up kickbacks'jusi-ro be paid
for complered infra. L,-u" nrre proj ec ts... A,rda1
a
said in a siatement. Nert page

Palace. DBM... file the complainr and ad{bess .their

Frcm A7
cet{rns to tbe respective depLtrn.nt
He said "concerned employees,' from or to Department of public Works.,' he
tbe DPWH and DBM told him thal the said.
total amountofstill unpaid contracts for . "lfthey were not even complaining
in the first place, then why uouid...
public works projects in 2018 increased
from P44 billion in November to more How can you be more popiih than the
than Pl00 billion at the end ofthe year. Pope?"
Presidential Spokesman Salvador The DBM issugd a statement on
Panelo. however, said Andaya Andaya's claim. saying that rhe Budger
was
"unclear" with his claim and said department was "not aware as to how
there was no logic in congressman's the Pl00 billion in (accounrs pdyable.)
allegation. have been arrived at since books of
"Why would the government owe the accounts have not yet been closed.',
contractors because of corruption? It "Notices of Cash A llocation,
seems there are no connection,,' panelo or NCAs. are issued based on the
said in a Palace press briefing, submitted list of due and demandable
"There would be corrupiion accounts payable (Aps) of the DPWH.
if the
For this year. we have already released
contractors are being bribed. But the
a total of P64 billion for Aps of tle
Sovernment owing them money, I don.t
know how, there's no connection. DPWH." said rhe statement prepared
lf by Undersecretary Tina
they were not paid enough, then maybe Rose Marie
the projects were incomplete, Canda.
that
might be the reason there," he added. "Under a reenacted budget, 25
Asked if the Palace will look into percent of funds for personnel
Andaya's allegations, panelo said that serv rces. matntenance and other
the contractors involved should file operating expenses. and capital
their complaints. outlays may be obligated. Amoqpts
'Congressman Andaya cannot be corresponding to salaries lor their
lawyering for these contractors. If the casual employees is incjuded in ihis
conlraclors have something to complain authority. It is now up to the DpWHj
to resolve this matter.',
fabour]. they should, themselvcs.
The DPWH has yet to issue a statement.

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