By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Jan 29 (PNA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways was able to save some P19 billion from July 2010 to Nov 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino said Wednesday.
Pres. Aquino made the announcement during the 2014 The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Awarding Ceremony held at the Insular Life Auditorium in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson was among the recipients of the prestigious award along with Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Project NOAH Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay and DOST-Forest Products Research forester, Arsenio Ella.
The President said that the DPWH, once known as among the most corrupt government agencies, is slowly breaking away from its old image under Singson’s leadership.
Saving the P19 billion worth of funds, the President said, was achieved by the DPWH through the process of bidding.
He also said that the said amount was equivalent to an estimated 23,750 classrooms.
Although Singson had to face difficulties and stresses during his term, Pres. Aquino commended him for never “backing-out” and urged him to continue to render public service for the whole nation. (PNA)