Mayor Merrera Hits VM Rosario on P4-M Overpayment to Contractor

 By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINMALEY, Pangasinan – The Mayor here assailed his immediate predecessor for the P4, 049, 195.58 excessively paid from the public coffer despite the third slab of the Multi-Purpose Building had already been paid by the Department of Public Works & Highway (DPWH) when it was already constructed earlier.

POLITICAL NEMESIS. Binmaley Mayor Pete Merrera (left, photo) and Vice Mayor Sammy Rosario.

“Yes, ang third slab binayaran na ng DPWH bakit nagkaroon pa ng other bidding sa pinaka third portion na excluded na iyong slab, samantala ang istimasyon nila iyong poste, iyong bubong saka iyong mga division sa last floor. Exclude mo na iyong slab nabayaran ng DPWH iyon e. E bakit kailangan pa e estimate pa ng municipal engineer pero utos ng mayor”,” Mayor Pedro A. Merrera told mediamen how then Mayor Simplicio Rosario and Municipal Engineer Leo Fernandez approved the offer of the contractor to build the controversial fourth floor of the public edifice.

After the three-storey building had been completed by Citron Builders and Supplies, DPWH told the officials of the local government unit (LGU) here during the administration of Rosario – who is the present vice mayor -  that the rooftop and the walls from the third slab would be funded by national government.

But then Mayor Rosario told the public works department that the local government unit (LGU) would finance instead the construction above the third slab by the same contractor.

Page 1 of the Notice of Disallowance from the Commision on Audit

“Ang ginagawa niya (Rosario): hindi kami na lang ang gagawa doon sa third floor hangang doon sa bubong,” Merrera said.

In May 9, 2023 Mayor Merrera received a Notice of Disallowance from the Office of the Auditor –Commission on Audit Team No. 4 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

“Result of technical inspection revealed that the concrete slab for the third floor was included in the contract but had already been undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways 2^nd District Engineering Office, Lingayen Pangasinan as part of the phase– I implementation, thereby, incurring a deficiency of P4, 049, 195.58. Said amount is hereby disallowed in audit. Copy of the technical inspection report is here attached for reference,” excerpt of the eight pages’ letter that determined Rosario and OIC- Municipal Engineer Fernandez as liable for the overpayment.

Merrera was told by the COA to direct Rosario and Fernandez to settle immediately the multi million pesos’ liability within six months from the receipt of the letter otherwise it becomes final and executory as prescribed under Sections 48 and 51 of Presidential Decree No. 1445 (Government Auditing Code of the Philippines).

The Notice of Disallowance was signed by State Auditor V Harizel A. Ibasan and OIC- Supervising Auditor Evangeline R. Picar.

Page 2 of the Notice of Disallowance from the Commision on Audit

When asked if he (Merrera) would file an anti-graft case against his predecessor, he answered in the negative as his office is still gathering documents on the P4, 049, 195.58 over payment.

“Wala pa. Inayos pa ang mga papeles dito,” he quipped.