DAVAO CITY – Party-list group Anakpawis today urged Congress to probe the P3.8-billion maintenance deal between the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Korean-based Busan Transportation Inc. with its local partners Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMI Corp Inc., Castan Corp and Edison Development Corp.
Rep. Fernando Hicap of Anakpawis said the deal was “obviously done in haste.”
Hicap added the deal is questionable after “the DOTC approved the maintenance deal, which reportedly did not go into a proper bidding process.”
“It should be reviewed by Congress as soon as possible because the DOTC wanted to implement the contract next year,” he said.
Hicap added that DOTC Sec. Joseph Abaya has abused his power by approving the maintenance contract “in secrecy”.
“They nailed the contract when both Congress chambers are already in recess. It was a deliberate attempt to make the deal under scrutinized,” he said.
Hicap said the commuters have the right to know why the deal was immediately approved. He said they also want to know who gave the go signal to Abaya to approve the transaction. (davaotoday.com)
