MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso questioned the installation of duplicate street signs in Manila following a viral post exposing the project allegedly approved under former mayor Honey Lacuna.
“Ang tawag po diyan ay paggasta ng resources ng gobyerno na walang kapararakan, ibig sabihin walang malasakit. Ang malungkot niyan, tinayuan ng bago (street signs) pero hindi inalis ‘yong luma. Hindi ba, inutil?” Domagoso said in his weekly broadcast on Sept. 5.
The Manila Public Information Office (PIO) posted documents and contracts on the same day, which revealed that Lacuna signed and approved the project on Dec. 23 last year.
A day after the broadcast, the local government of Manila removed the old street signs and retained the new ones.
The Manila PIO said the street signs were allocated a budget of P39.9 million, under a contract given to ALE Builders Construction & Development Corp.
“Ayoko po magturo. But that (project documents) speaks for itself. Gusto ko sana ipaliwanag pero baka maging politikal. Kayo na lang po manghusga,” he added.
The documents showed that 82.6% of the project was accomplished, leaving 17.4% of the signs unfinished.
The Varsitarian reached out to former mayor Honey Lacuna for a statement but her camp has yet to respond as of posting time.
Domagoso said he would let the Commission on Audit investigate whether the double street sign project was “unnecessary and superfluous.” Alexandra S. Demaisip
