Whistle blower NIA contractor?

The scuttlebutt in the construction circle these days is that of a whistle blower of a multi-million scam in the National Irrigation Administration in Talibon becoming part of the action as a contractor. This ticklish development cropped up last week after at least two contractors confirmed to the Post that Engr. Nilo Sarigumba, the crusading individual who blew the whistle on the P165 million Small Reservoir Impounding Project (SRIP) in Talibon was given a construction job right in the project he exposed. Wasting no time, the Post sought the reaction of Engr. Sarigumba and yielded negative results. But the two sources in the construction industry stood by their revelation. In denying the allegations, Engr Sarigumba said that it may be true that he was involved in the Talibon project but it does not mean that he already abandoned his crusade to prosecute the guilty parties of the multi-million dam scam.

Sarigumba, who is a former NIA executive, clarified that if at all, he is involved in the project, it was because he was in the forefront of a rigid monitoring process in order to prevent a repetition of the scandal. that attended the huge undertaking. The latest news about the dam scam was that the present NIA hierarchy has earmarked an P80 million budget for this year to start some construction right in the anomalous project. At least P20 million was already released on the project involving the construction of an embankment and a spillway. Two contractors, have embarked on a joint venture to start the embankment job. The two are O.R. Sarmiento Construction of Cebu City and Yu Construction of this city.

The start of construction activities in the Talibon dam precipitated the loose talks that Sarigumba was given a piece of the action apparently to silence him. In fact, it was bruited about that Sarigumba's role in the new NIA project was tailored-fit for him as a way of silencing him for good. But Sarigumba minced no words in denying the accusations. In fact, it was Sarigumba who furnished the Post the pictures to support this story. The pictures were taken before the construction activities shall have started. (SEE PICTURES PAGE 1)

He was supported by Engr Modesto Membreve, project manager of NIA who insisted that that there was nothing irregular in the continuing work of the SRIP in Talibon. The project has since been turned over to Membreve;'s office from the Provincial Irrigation Office under Engr. Calixto Seroje. Vowing to complete the project, Engr. Membreve said that the total outlay being earmarked Is P272 million spread in three years. He said his timetable is to finish the project in 2008.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Started more than a decade already, the controversial project was long abandoned until it was exposed by the group identified with Engr. Sarigumba. As programmed, the Talibon project was supposed to irrigate 1,000 hectares of prime ricelands. When Sarigumba's group exposed the anomaly, what it discovered after the government spent P165 million was a 30-meter concrete bridge, office building, access road, canal and RC pipes—all abandoned except for the small office building. This prompted the Boholanos Against Corruption, Oppression, Social Harassment (Bacosh) of which Sarigumba was the convenor to file an anti-graft case against Engr. o Seroje, provincial irrigation engineer at the time the project was started.

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