Projects' Bidding in DPWH’s Districts are Fixed

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 A former mayor and an official of a congressman said that all government projects being bidded at many districts of the Department of Public Works & Highway are fixed.

The officials, who speak on condition of anonymity, cited that those projects have been given to the favored contractors of the solon at the district in Pangasinan where the projects are intended.

“Ako ang tirador ni congressman noon. May pre-qualification bid iyan ayon sa R.A 9184. Mahabang proceso. May pass –fail criteria pa iyon documents mo. My post – qualification pa. It’s sad to say all bidding in public works lahat fixed iyon,” the aide of a solon stressed to this writer.

Republic Act 9184 is Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government.

Money exchanges hands between a contractor and a corrupt government official.

Based on his experiences those projects intended for a district need the imprimatur of a congressman who decides whom it can be awarded in a bid.

“Takot ang D.E ng DPWH sa congressman,” he said.

D.E is District Engineer or the top honcho of the DPWH in a selected number of local government units that include a city and towns or purely towns only.

Tax man to hunt those errant shop owners

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

After I posted the mall’s brouhaha that became “viral” (a Facebook’s parlance means “quickly becomes very popular”) that major radio commentators feasted, a lawyer - friend reported to me how one of the stalls in a new business establishment in Dagupan City violated the tax law of the country by not issuing an official receipt (O.R) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“Mahaba ang pila namin sa sikat nila na “drink” ng mapansin ko na binabawi ng attendant iyong recibo na binigay niya sa harap ko na customer. Noong ako na ang nagbayad sinabi ko na kailangan ko ng O.R ng BIR. Binigyan ako pero binabawi rin niya,” the lawyer, who declared on condition of anonymity, told me.

When he introduced himself as a lawyer and lectured her that the store violated the tax law of the land, the attendant, who felt those lectures were “Greek”, told him they don’t have the O.R.

“Imagine they have been operating for more than a week without issuing receipts from the BIR. They should have shut down their shop.” He told me.
He called his friends at the BIR and reported the matter.

I know another store there that did not have an O.R but did not open to business afraid that it could commit infraction, according to its staff.

“We are still waiting for our official receipt,” he told me.

Authorities shut down a big time Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) provider in Quezon City, complying with the Finance chief’s ordered crackdown on gambling sites that refuse to pay taxes. Extreme right is Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa. (FILE PHOTO)

When I narrated the incident last Tuesday with BIR Revenue District Office No. 4 Chief Ernesto I. Mangabat, who oversees two cities and 13 towns in central Pangasinan, and Taxpayer Assistance Unit Lee Caday, the point man of BIR Region-1 Director Thelma S. Milabao who was out –of-town, they were alarmed.

Group cite more benefits from second power plant in Sual town

 SUAL, Pangasinan – A multi-sectoral group of residents here that includes senior citizens and womenfolk, is urging the new leaders to support the second power plant because of the numerous benefits the residents of Sual could get from the project to be constructed by a multi-national company based in South Korea.

Calling themselves as Sual Proprogress, the group said they support the development thrusts of the municipal government headed by Mayor Lizeldo “Dong” Calugay, particularly the construction of the Sual International Seaport which could draw in more investors.

However, they said, the frequent power interruptions in many parts of Pangasinan could disrupt the flow of investors that could generate additional revenues for the province as well as job opportunities for the people.

In welcoming the entry of another power plant in their locality, they listed several benefits that the municipality of Sual and its residents could derive from the project:

1.       The proposed power plant project would provide more than one thousand jobs for local folk that would mean higher purchasing power and standard of living for Sual residents;

LMP- P'SINAN CHAPTER OFFICERS MEET WITH GUV

LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINES – PANGASINAN CHAPTER OFFICERS. Local chief executives flash the Pangasinan no. 1 sign alongside Governor Amado I. Espino III (4^th from left) who earlier administered their oath-taking ceremony as the new set of officers of League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Pangasinan Chapter at the Ceremonial Hall of the Urduja House on October 17. The LMP – Pangasinan officers are: Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil (3^rd from right), president; Dasol Mayor Noel A. Nacar, vice-president; Balungao Mayor Maria Theresa R. Peralta, secretary; Binmaley Mayor Simplicio L. Rosario, treasurer; Calasiao Mayor Joseph Arman C. Bauzon, auditor; and Basista Mayor Jolly R. Resuello, public relations officer. /SMDG (Photo by Meinard Sadim)

Charges Loom for Aguilar's LGU Exec. for Bid Doc. Anomaly

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – An official of the local government unit (LGU) of Aguilar, Pangasinan is being mulled to be complained criminally and administratively at the Ombudsman.

The source, who asked for anonymity, said that when he wanted to buy a bidding document for the Bids & Awards Committee (BAC) to competitively tender with those favored contractors of the allegedly power that be, the official gave him a runaround.

“Kasi Martes mayroon siyang DILG visitor, then the following day Miyerkules mayroon siyang appointment sa labas for project identification. So busy in short wala siyang appropriate time,” he stressed.

A file darkened photo of a whistle blower.

When the source asked the female executive to give him an available date and time for them to meet, he was told Thursday and Friday of this week.

Last Friday she was indisposed, the source said, that prompted him to report this anomaly to media men in this city.

He cited the department head should not deprive those contractors who are not friends of the administration there because the project is advertised at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PHILGEPS).

The source wanted to bid cheaply to all contracts on infrastructure projects entered by the local government unit under Mayor Roldan C. Sagles.

“I supposed they are trying to evade all interested parties for their favored contractor,” he told reporters.

Dagupan Mayor Zeroes on Floods as Most Urgent Problem

                                                    FIRST 100 DAYS REPORT

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY - In the First 100 Days Report of the mayor here, he zeroed on the scourge of floods as the most pressing problem his administration faces.

Mayor Marc Brian Lim said that the topographic survey he commissioned through the Dagupan Anti-Flooding Commission will be the basis of all flood mitigation projects that will soon be finished.

“I thank the men and women of the Flood Mitigation Commission, led by Joseph Lo, for volunteering, at no expense to the city government, their time and expertise, to once and for all document and implement our long term strategic plan to solve our flooding problem,” he stressed last Thursday to a limited number of invited crowd at the narrow space’s City’s Museum here.

REPORT - Dagupan City Mayor Marc Brian Lim during his First 100 Days Report to his constituents. 

The open dumpsite in Barangay Bonuan Binloc has been dubbed by Lim as an ignorance problem that needs urgent action.

During the six years of former mayor Belen T. Fernandez’s administration, the waste yard has been neglected and its deterioration was hidden from the public because officials barred media men to investigate and report it.

“If we are to analyze it fully, it was really an ignorance problem. At least now we can say that Teddy Villamil and the Waste Management Division are focused on trying to resolve it”.

He will expedite the solution of the herculean garbage problem because of the eco-park in the adjacent area.

Mediocre, Stupid Radio Announcers

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

Radio announcers should not emulate this mediocre female radio announcer who was convicted with libel by the Regional Trial Court.

Because of imprudence that borders to stupidity, she maliciously attacked on her program a person to commit a higher crime despite knowing that her ire committed a less serious offense.

Libel, according to Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code has the following elements: 1. The allegation of a discreditable act or condition concerning another; 2. Publication (jurisprudence called it too as “broadcasting”) of the charge; 3. Identity of the person defamed; 4. Existence of Malice.

The judge of the Regional Trial Court, who handled the case for several years, saw all the four elements consummated by the wannabe radio woman.  

With that conviction where she is sentenced to serve several years in the slammer, she got the following options.

A female radio announcer opines inside the station's booth.

She pays tens of thousands of pesos for her lawyer for her Petition to Appeal at the Court of Appeals (C.A).

If the C.A will affirm the decision of the RTC, she shells out again tens of thousands of pesos for a lawyer who will write an appeal to the Supreme Court.

If the highest tribunal agreed with the RTC’s decision she goes to jail and serve the several years’ sentence given to her by the Regional Trial Court.

If she applies for probation, within 15 days upon receipt of the decision of the RTC, to avoid the adverse decision of the S.C, she opens herself with civil indemnity the complainant will file against her with hundreds of thousands of pesos’ damages. Thanks to mediocrity and stupidity, she reaps now the consequences of her bravado thinking she got the microphone in the booth and a license to maliciously and orally slander another person.

***

I remember a radio announcer in my province who zealously lambasting on air the incompetence of the district engineer of the Department of Public Works & Highway.

He singled out the rough and tumble road abandoned with neglect by the government.

Unfortunately, the district engineer, the top man of the DPWH that covers two congressional districts, was driving his car and was tuned to the frequency of the radio station.

When the D.E stormed into the booth of the station where the broadcaster was unleashing his vitriol against the former, the latter was startled as if he saw a ghost.

“You do your homework first before you attack me. The road you are assailing is provincial road and not a national highway that is under my watch!” the district engineer screamed at him.

I could cite other irresponsible radio announcers because of mediocrity and stupidity where they dragged themselves to an awkward position like financial expenses because they were sued with libel by those they orally slandered.

*** 

The difference between the administrations of former Dagupan City’s mayor Belen T. Fernandez and incumbent mayor Brian Lim, during the stints of the former public toilets at the back of the office of the park administrator and near the mayor shed in Barangay Bonuan Gueset was free of charge to the public who relieved themselves there.

Last Wednesday when I went there to pee, a woman holding a mop, billed me five pesos for the use of the john there.

Other guys and gals I saw there shelling out too five pesos for the use of the two toilets without even given a receipt by the woman to account that those monies were going to the public coffer.

I don’t know if Mayor Lim knows this but it if this “misconduct” or shenanigan or mulcting or whatever was done by his employees there, he will look bad before the eyes of his constituents up to the May 2022 election when ex-mayor Fernandez will make a comeback.

The young Lim, a former vice mayor, vanquished six years’ mayor Fernandez, an ally of the de Venecias, in a close- shave contest with a 1,239 (1.4%) lead votes among the 97,073 voters in the massive vote buying marred May 13, 2019 poll. 

(You can read my selected columns at http://mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com) 

READ MY OTHER BLOG/COLUMN:

Who is Stupid Between Me and This Ex-Solon, Radioman?