DFA’s favorite contractor?

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves…” (Isaiah 1:23, the Holy Bible).

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AFFIDAVIT RE: PLUNDER RAPS VS. DFA OFFICIALS, PART II: Here is the second part of the Complaint that Reynaldo Joson, the chief of the Hygiene and Sanitation Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), filed with the Office of the Ombudsman charging top DFA officials and ambassadors with plunder and graft over anomalous repairs of the DFA building involving hundreds of millions of pesos. Read on:

“4. Given (my) Special Assignment, I discovered anomalies… as follows: With a combined allocated budget appropriation of P5 billion for years of various projects, respondent DFA officials… awarded to contractors, a number of major projects, to wit: Renovation of Roofing, P120 million; renovation of auditorium, P200 million;

“Water proofing of roof deck, P45 million; replacement of asbestos ceilings to Hardiflex, from 13th floor to basement, P100 million; replacement of centralized air-conditioned units, P200 million; replacement of water cooling; renovations of stairways, P10 million; replacement of fire alarm systems, P20 million; renovation of various parts of the DFA building, P20 million.

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DFA’S FAVORITE CONTRACTOR? “5. It is worthy to note that the respondents awarded most of the winning bids to JD Legaspi Construction Corporation, the same contractor that is involved in the anomalous construction of the most expensive Macapagal Avenue, located at the Reclamation Area in front of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

“6. Complainant likewise discovered the following anomalies perpetrated by the Contractor, in cahoots with the respondents: Renovation of Roofing---Contractor JD Legaspi renovated the entire roofing of the DFA Main Office. The low quality of work by the contractor and poor engineering supervision caused the water leak of the DFA building.

“The water from the roofing accumulated at the Auditorium area (which) served as a catch basin. As the volume of the water increased, the ceiling collapsed. The structural support that held the ceiling failed to carry the load… Fortunately, there was no activity at the Auditorium at the time of the incident…

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DFA OFFICIALS’ INACTION AGAINST CONTRACTOR: “At the time of the unfortunate incident, JD Legaspi was still performing other renovation projects at the DFA Head Office Building. While the renovated roofing and auditorium were still under warranty, U/Sec. Frank Ebdalin hired another contractor to do the repair of the damaged ceiling, including the repair of water leaks, without invoking the warranty.

“Renovation of auditorium---The collapse of almost the entire ceiling of the Auditorium of the DFA building caused damage to properties including the entire carpet flooring of the auditorium.

“In spite of the damage and warranty, respondents failed to take action against JD Legaspi, instead, another contractor was taken in to initiate the necessary repair/remedy, to the extent of purchasing a new set of (brand new) floor carpet at the expense of the Department…” More of this next issue.

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PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way), a Bible study and prayer session on radio, airs Mondays to Fridays, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at DWAD 1098 kHz on the AM band. For replays, go to www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan or www.facebook.com/ANDKNK and scroll for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts. Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0917 984 24 68. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

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