The Provincial General Services Office (PGSO), implementing arm of the provincial government in the renovation of Capitol facilities, is under fire again for alleged irregularity in the renovation of offices of provincial board members.

SUBSTANDARD?

This came after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) sniffed something "dubious" on how the PGSO implement the P3-million renovation project. PGSO has been figured in the reported irregularity in the bidding processes of P3.7-million air-conditioning units at the Bohol Cultural Center. The SP Committee on Public Works chaired by Board Member (BM) Jose Veloso, whose office is also under renovation, discovered that the old materials that were earlier demolished were re-used on the walling and doors of the project. BM Felix Uy questioned Engr. Eustaquio Caliao, who represented PGSO and in-charge of the project, during the SP session last week how come old materials were utilized, contrary to the Program of Work. Presiding Officer senior BM Dionisio Balite hinted that PGSO may be criminally liable if it continues to do the job by

Uy agreed with Balite's observation because it is a violation of RA 3019 otherwise known as Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law, violating as far as the specifications of the project are concerned, he told Caliao.

"What we were doing was to preserve the old walling along the aisle of the offices because we found out during the demolition work that these materials are sound and still reusable," Caliao explained.

Caliao also said that by utilizing the old materials "we can generate savings." He cited that the province can save some P40,000 if the glass doors alone will be restored.

This gave rise to suspicion that PGSO has saved after the previous renovation of the offices of BMs Godofreda Tirol, Ester Corazon Galbreath, Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos and Lim without SP's knowledge.

'Where's the savings' asked Lim, who chairs the appropriations committee. She said that if old materials can still be utilized then there was no need to appropriate more funds for the renovation, Lim continued.

But Caliao, denied having ordered the re-use of the old materials.

But, Veloso retorted quoting Herbert Malmis' foreman Vicente Mendez as having manifested that the re-use of the old materials "was auathorized" by Caliao, who is engineer III of PGSO.

Veloso's report, which was approved by SP, also bared there was 'lack of supervision and monitoring on the part of the PGSO" on the renovation.

Lim, on her part, said that when she started to occupy, the glass door of her office was replaced by a wooden one and the toilet did not function. When she asked for replacement of the toilet, she was told by PGSO to buy one for her office instead, which irked the lawmaker.

The seat and cover of flush toilet bowls in the vice-governor office, looked "sub-standard" because it did not fit well on the bowl brim.

Veloso's committee demanded the contractor to remove the re-used materials and replace it with what is being specified in the program of work. (RVO)