The Provincial Engineer’s Office has refuted the report of the Provincial Planning and Development Office on the status of various projects implemented in Negros Oriental.

Provincial Engineer Franco Alpuerto called the report of Joy Gongob of PPDO “without factual basis and lacking research.”

In the meeting of the Provincial Development Council recently, Gongob said that, of the total 273 projects in 2011 with a budget of P230.6 million from the 20 percent economic development fund, only 103 were completed, 59 are ongoing and 108 have not been started yet.

Of the 309 projects under the 2012 Annual Investment Plan amounting to P182.3 million, only 31 were completed, 47 ongoing and 227 yet to be started, she also said.

Gongob said they have different parameters from the PEO on evaluating projects. What matters is its physical aspect, and not the scope of work, the technical aspect and the accounting processes.

Alpuerto lamented the lack of coordination by the PPDO before it submitted its report to the council, since his office furnishes them reports on its accomplishments on a monthly basis.

He said the PPDO report is submitted by non-engineers, who do not have the technical knowhow on project evaluation, and there were claims that data gathered by the PPDO monitoring teams are also being altered.

Alpuerto said that even if the projects are completed according to the program of work, the final declaration should be made after the payment of all obligations, like fuel, labor and materials.

He said the bidding is regularly conducted March to May, so projects for the current year should not be interpreted literally as having started the first day of the year.

Alpuerto also said that, under the joint memorandum circular 2011-1 of DILG and DBM dated April 13, 2011, some of the projects last year could not be implemented anymore, prompting the provincial government to seek their realignment.

Among those covered in the prohibition under the memo-circular are projects and programs for medical assistance, sports, uniforms, supplies, meetings, communication, water, light, petroleum products, repair of offices, purchase and repair of motorcycles.

Alpuerto said the PPDO needs to see the real picture and coordinate with them before submitting reports to the PDC.*JG

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