Lacson: No overpricing in Yolanda bunkhouses. Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery chief Panfilo Lacson, in giving update on the rehabilition efforts in Yolanda-hit areas during a press briefing at Malacañang on Monday, January 27, said there was no overpricing in the construction of bunkhouses in Tacloban City. Benhur Arcayan
The government is considering stopping the construction of bunkhouses for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and instead may just give them materials to repair their houses, Presidential Adviser for Rehabilitation and Recovery Sec. Panfilo Lacson said.
“Nag-confer kami ni [DPWH] Secretary Babes [Singson] na parang we’ll do away with the bunkhouses na. Bibigyan na lang talaga ng construction materials ‘yung mga tao na gustong magkumpuni ng transition shelters,” Lacson said during a press conference at the Palace on Monday.
“Kasi ‘pag kinumpuni nila ‘yung mga dating bahay nila, in effect those are temporary shelters, kasi ire-relocate din naman sila eventually ‘pag nakakita na ng relocation sites at nagawa na ‘yung mga housing units,” he added.
But even before this, issues of overpricing and substandard bunkhouses also hounded the government.
“There’s no question, walang overpricing. Kasi pinatingnan ko rin ito. Meron kaming pool of civil engineers who went to the area and took a look at the standard specifications prepared by DPWH. Walang overpricing. Ito rin ‘yung sinasabi ni Secretary Singson, and we agree,” he said.
But he admitted there were “shortcomings” in the construction of the bunkhouses.
“[Meron] ‘yung under specifications, even substituting of materials—hindi sumunod talaga doon sa specs ng DPWH,” he said.
The good thing about this, he said, is that the contractors are now aware that this will not be tolerated.
“Medyo aware sila, alam nilang babantayan natin, at hindi lulusot. So hindi rin sila babayaran. According to Secretary Babes, hindi nila babayaran ‘yung merong mga diperensya,” he said.
Lacson likewise said that individuals who were previously meddling with the bunkhouses have backed down a bit.
“Medyo nag-lie low na ‘yung mga nakikialam doon sa bunkhouses,” he said.
He said his sources “talked of 30 to 35 percent commissions,” but did not provide details.
