New BCDA exec appointed to oversee P21-B project
By Tonette Orejas -- Inquirer
CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE—The Bases Conversion Development Authority has neither suspended nor investigated one of its top officials accused of receiving “advance commissions” from firms wanting to get sub-contracts in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEP).
The most that the BCDA did was to appoint Isaac Puno, the agency’s executive vice president, as SCTEP’s executive director, apparently to have a direct handle on Antonio Rex Chan, BCDA vice president for operations and SCTEP program director.
Leilani Macasaet, BCDA information officer, and Chan confirmed Puno’s new task, which he assumed this month.
Chan said he found nothing unusual with the creation of that new post or having Puno in that post.
“He has been handling that job. The change only comes in the job description. He is my boss anyway and I actually report to him,” Chan said in a text message.
Macasaet said Chan has not been relieved from any of his posts.
“There has been no formal complaint filed against Mr. Chan,” Macasaet said.
Chan said he remained the program director of the P21-billion SCTEP, a major infrastructure project of the Arroyo administration, which has suffered delays because of controversies in the BCDA.
The 94-km highway links the Subic Bay Freeport in Bataan and Zambales, Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Tarlac, and the Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac City.
A group of contractors, in a letter on Aug. 24, said Chan allegedly collected between P1 million and P5 million from each firm. A list of at least 12 companies that agreed to pay up but never got projects was given to the Inquirer.
Chan had denied the allegation, saying it was part of a campaign to ease him out of the agency that he has worked for since 1992.
He said he did not endorse any local contractor to the two Japanese joint ventures. Congressmen, mayors and BCDA president Narciso Abaya made the endorsements, Chan said.
CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE—The Bases Conversion Development Authority has neither suspended nor investigated one of its top officials accused of receiving “advance commissions” from firms wanting to get sub-contracts in the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEP).
The most that the BCDA did was to appoint Isaac Puno, the agency’s executive vice president, as SCTEP’s executive director, apparently to have a direct handle on Antonio Rex Chan, BCDA vice president for operations and SCTEP program director.
Leilani Macasaet, BCDA information officer, and Chan confirmed Puno’s new task, which he assumed this month.
Chan said he found nothing unusual with the creation of that new post or having Puno in that post.
“He has been handling that job. The change only comes in the job description. He is my boss anyway and I actually report to him,” Chan said in a text message.
Macasaet said Chan has not been relieved from any of his posts.
“There has been no formal complaint filed against Mr. Chan,” Macasaet said.
Chan said he remained the program director of the P21-billion SCTEP, a major infrastructure project of the Arroyo administration, which has suffered delays because of controversies in the BCDA.
The 94-km highway links the Subic Bay Freeport in Bataan and Zambales, Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and Tarlac, and the Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac City.
A group of contractors, in a letter on Aug. 24, said Chan allegedly collected between P1 million and P5 million from each firm. A list of at least 12 companies that agreed to pay up but never got projects was given to the Inquirer.
Chan had denied the allegation, saying it was part of a campaign to ease him out of the agency that he has worked for since 1992.
He said he did not endorse any local contractor to the two Japanese joint ventures. Congressmen, mayors and BCDA president Narciso Abaya made the endorsements, Chan said.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
4:17 AM
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