• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The House committee on Public Accounts is set to resume on December 18, its inquiry into alleged irregularities in the procurement process of P1.4 billion infrastructure and other projects of the Silay City government.
Among those invited are Silay City officials led by Mayor Joedith Gallego, including department heads and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The inquiry will be held at the Villar Hall, South Wing Annex of the House of Representatives at 1:30 p.m. today.
Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, chair of the Public Accounts committee, requested Mayor Gallego to submit documents related to the repair and rehabilitation of the Silay City Public Market, construction of the new City Hall, and City College.
Paduano had alleged misuse of funds by the Silay City government, led by Gallego, involving the repair, rehabilitation and renovation of the city public market, with a budget of P300 million, and the construction of the P500 million new City Hall, claiming that approved local measures are allegedly laden with discrepancies, irregularities, and evident partiality.
Gallego maintained that there is no basis for the accusations against him, stressing “everything we do, goes through process and complies with the law.”
He also dismissed the accusations as trial by publicity and political harassment.
Paduano, designated the caretaker of the 3rd congressional district of Negros Occidental, following the appointment of former Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez as the director general of TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), said that many questions remained unanswered during its previous committee hearing.
Silay City Councilor Ryan Milos Romeo Gamboa, who was also invited to attend the congressional inquiry, said he has information that representatives of the Silver Dragon Construction and Lumber, and Glass Supply Inc., Development Bank of the Philippines, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and Vice Mayor Thomas Maynard Ledesma, were also invited to attend the inquiry.
During the first congressional inquiry, Silay City officials were asked about the construction of the P500 million Silay City Government Center, among other issues related to the P1.4 billion mega infra projects of the Gallego administration.
While the Silay City Government Center bidding amount was P499,950,977.8, it was found out by the committee that the documents submitted by the winning bidder, Silver Dragon Construction and Lumber, and Glass Supply Inc., stated that the total estimated project cost was P316.9 million.
During the inquiry, Architect Geovannie Guzon, who is City Planning Development Officer, admitted that he overlooked that portion of computation, and he will consult with the one who computed the amount in his office.*
