Ping: P1.2B wasted when C-5 re-routed to pass Villar properties

BY DENNIS GADIL

ABOUT P1.2 billion of taxpayers’ money went to waste for right of way (ROW) for the C-5 project as the original route was changed to traverse the properties of Senate President Manuel Villar, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson told the budget hearing of the Department of Public Works and Highways that payments were made even after the change.

Lacson also questioned what he called the large disparity in the land valuation of the Villar properties and those owned by the family of Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza, whose properties are also located in the vicinity of the road project.

The Plaza family, which hails from Agusan province, has kept has properties in Parañaque City.

Lacson said the Villar lots fetched right of way compensation of P15,000 to P30,000 per square meter while the Plaza properties were valued at P4,000 per sq. m.

Lacson has said that Villar was guilty of conflict of interest in pushing for the C-5 road extension project and he can prove it before the ethics committee.

He also accused Villar of sponsoring a law while the latter was still a congressman from Las Piñas. The law mandated the infusion of billions in government money into two housing finance institutions with which Villar’s companies did business.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate finance chief, told Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to enlighten his panel on why the original route of the road extension project was realigned or changed.

Ebdane said the Department of Public Works and Highways would still insist on the release of the second P200 million allocated for the C-5 project despite allegations of double entry and corruption by Lacson.

He maintained there was nothing anomalous in the second allocation and said it should be released for its intended appropriation.

"Anything in addition is welcome. Wala kaming anomalyang nakikita insofar as the allocation is concerned. As far as we are concerned, we are more than happy that an additional amount is allocated," he added.

Ebdane said what is illegal is having two different amounts for one specific project.

He said the DPWH will likely use the additional P200 million for the construction of a flyover that would link the Parañaque portion of the extended C-5 road to Coastal Road in Las Piñas City.

The Coastal flyover would be the second flyover component of the C-5 road extension project seeking to connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the cities of Parañaque City and Las Piñas. The first flyover will be located along Sucat road, Parañaque near the SM City Sucat property.