Senate Blue Ribbon to Probe Substandard Public Works Projects

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is preparing to investigate substandard public works projects following the recent collapse of a retaining wall along the northbound lane of EDSA-Ayala in Makati City, committee chairman Senator Erwin Tulfo said Sunday. "Apart from the new names and issues connected to the flood control mess, we will also investigate substandard projects. Bridges, roads, and public works that clearly failed to meet standards. We will investigate them one by one," Tulfo said in a press release citing his radio interview. "Obviously, there’s corruption in there because you are given this certain amount of budget to construct these structures according to standards, but it’s unfinished or subpar," he added. Tulfo said the committee is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies in preparation for the investigation. He made the statement following the collapse of the EDSA retaining wall amid heavy rains in Metro Manila on Sunday. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the structure was dangerously built using lightweight board materials instead of reinforced concrete. Tulfo said the Blue Ribbon Committee is also zeroing in on alleged systemic corruption in other government agencies. "Corruption has plagued this system for too long, and we are tackling it head-on, one issue at a time. We will be strict in gathering rock-solid evidence, and we will conduct this strictly by the book," the senator said. The Blue Ribbon Committee is the Senate’s primary investigative body tasked with looking into alleged government corruption, official misconduct, and malfeasance in office. — MCG, GMA News