DBM denies ‘fund scam’ allegations
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2019 04:06:24 +0000
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) denied allegations that it was behind the facilitation of a fund scam in flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“The Department of Budget and Management expressly denies the facilitation of a’ fund scam’ in the Flood Mitigation Structures and Drainage Systems program of the Department of Public Works and Highways,” it said in a statement released on Monday.
Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., majority leader of the House of Representatives, accused Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and his department of conniving with DPWH officials in facilitating anomalous allocations in flood control projects.
In particular, Andaya alleged that there was a conspiracy with the DBM and Aremar Construction Corp., the firm of Diokno’s in-laws.
He said the flood control scam could have benefitted the Aremar firm through billions of projects devoted to Casiguran and other parts of Sorsogon province.
The DBM said that Andaya also claimed that P332 billion was allocated for “non-existent” flood control projects.
This purportedly comprised P213 billion worth of appropriations in 2017 and 2018 and the proposed allocation of P119 billion for 2019.
The DBM said it “believes that citing these amounts to present a picture of a ‘flood control scam’ facilitated by the DBM is irresponsible and misleading.” MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO
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