Signing of project inspection docs ministerial, says ex-DPWH official

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region IV-B Maintenance Division chief Juliet Calvo testified before the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday that the signing of inspection reports for public works projects is a "ministerial duty." Calvo is one of eight co-accused in a malversation of funds through falsification of public documents case, stemming from a P289.4 million road dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, which state prosecutors claim has serious structural deficiencies. Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon had previously discovered that the road dike only had a three-meter steel sheet pile (SSP), significantly short of the 12-meter requirement. However, a certificate of inspection (COI) for March 18, 2024, signed by Calvo, declared the SSPs compliant with the 12-meter requirement. When questioned by a government prosecutor, Calvo stated her signing of the COI was "ministerial." Despite her lawyer's objections, she admitted to not personally inspecting the site and relying solely on geotagged photos to determine the SSP length, stating, "Just based on what appears in the pictures." The COI is a requirement for the first progress billing to the contractor, Sunwest. Sunwest is co-founded by Co, a former party-list representative who resigned last September amid public outrage over a multibillion flood control corruption scandal. Co himself has been declared a fugitive from justice by the Sandiganbayan and cannot participate in the trial. Information Source: Inquirer NewsInfo