Manila-The Board of Directors of the National Irrigation
Administration yesterday denied the allegations of its own employees’
association of massive corruption in the agency.
In a press statement, the Board decried the allegations but
nevertheless directed the internal audit services of the agency to look into
the allegations.
The Board described the accusations as “untrue, malicious
and unfair.”
The Board was
reacting to the manifesto of the National Irrigation Administration Employees
Association of the Philippines (NIAEASP) which asked President Aquino to
investigate alleged corruption in the agency amid reports of irregularities in
the bidding and implementation of irrigation projects and the purported
meddling of the Board in the workings of NIA Administrator Claro Maranan.
In
a two-page February 6 letter-manifesto to Mr. Aquino, which was furnished
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the NIAEASP lamented what it termed as
the “very serious and alarming developments” in the agency, contrary to the
President’s “Daang Matuwid” policy of governance.
The
strongly worded letter-manifesto was signed by NIAEASP national president
Victorino Aron and national vice president Louella Mercado. It was read during
a flag-raising ceremony at the central office last February 10.
Also
yesterday, employees of the agency held a lightning rally at the central office
compound along NIA Road in Quezon City to protest the alleged corruption. The
employees wore black arm bands.
While denying the allegations, the Board said it is taking
cognizance of the NIAEASP’s complaints and is taking steps to address the same.
It said it is committed to implement needed reforms and
adhere to the highest tenets of good governance at NIA.
The protesting employees alleged that a top official
ordered the payment of 50 percent of the billing of a contractor who has a
project in Sarangani province even if the concerned official is fully aware
that the said contractor has no physical accomplishment.
“This practice
is going on in other provinces and COA (Commission on Audit) records will
support our claim,” the group said.
It
added that another top official ordered the repackaging of projects from
administration works to local minor contracts worth P105 million, purportedly
to draw kickbacks.
The
NIAEASP said one of the top agency officials is allegedly boasting that he will
assume as Maranan’s successor next month. This, it said, in spite of the fact that the said official
has pending cases for graft and corruption in the Office of the Ombudsman.
The
group had accused the BOD of arbitrarily and capriciously issuing policies that
usurped the powers of Maranan by arrogating to itself the authority to approve
the appointment of officials holding the position with salary Grade 24 and
above.
The
NIAEASP officials asked the President to order a formal investigation of the
above-cited allegations. They said they are willing to cooperate in the
investigation by furnishing his office with documents.
Other signatories to the manifesto
were national secretary Antonio Esquivel Jr., national treasurer Cecilia Layug,
national press relations officer Eduardo Yu, national business manager Carlos
dela Cruz, sectoral representatives Lourdes Amurao and Moises Batocabe,
Balog-Balog Multi-purpose Project president Cresencio Magbag, Agno River
Irrigation Project president Susan Zambrano, Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation
and Power Project presidents Alberto Samson and Upper Pampanga River Integrated
Irrigation Systems president Ernesto Ponce and district presidents Paulita
Yagyagan (Cordillera Administrative Region), Placido Duldulao (Region 1),
Avelino Tuazon (region 2), Alvin Roberto David (Region 3), Bienvenido Anterola
(Region 4B); Arthur Sanico (Region 6), Elvira Alvarado (Region 7), Erlinda
Superable (Region 8), Albine Jubilado (Region 9), Arlene Sumayo (Region 10),
Ryan Pichon (Region 11), Willie Ablan (Region 12) and Joel Culejara (Region
13). – Manny Galvez
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