TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) recently completed an internal quality audit (IQA).
Conducted from July 9–11, 2024, the audit is part of the office’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality and excellence in service delivery.
The audit aimed to evaluate the DEO’s effectiveness in meeting its quality objectives, identify areas for improvement, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
The audit process included thorough reviews of project documents, inspections, and interviews with key personnel and employees to observe activities and ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and standards.
During the exit meeting, IQA Lead Auditor Lenie Gavan commended the DPWH Leyte 2nd DEO team for their commitment and dedication to upholding quality standards and continuous improvement.
She emphasized the importance of maintaining a culture of quality and excellence within the organization to consistently deliver projects that meet or exceed expectations.
“This audit has provided us with valuable insights that will guide our efforts to further enhance our service delivery and efficiency,” said District Engineer Leo Edward L. Oppura.
“We appreciate the support of our auditors and will work diligently to address the findings and recommendations,” added DE Oppura.
In response to the audit findings, the DPWH L2DEO quality management team reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement and excellence. They will implement corrective actions and preventive measures to address identified non-conformities and improve overall performance.
The objective of the internal quality audit was to assess compliance with established quality management systems, identify areas for improvement, and ensure ongoing excellence in project implementation and performance.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Digs
As the senate digs into the many issues involving suspended mayor Alice Guo, other agencies led by the National Bureau of Investigation conducted a raid of the farm where many buildings are situated. The buildings are disowned by the suspended mayor as she insists that she only owns the land where the buildings where erected. She had the temerity to tell the senate committee that she did not know about the construction of the buildings as she only owns the land. When pressed why she allowed the constructions as shown in the building permits, she claimed that it was the engineer office that reviewed the plans and her office only approved the permit as ministerial duty.
The raids led to the discovery of well-designed spacious airconditioned rooms. In the rooms were high-end computers where online gambling are operated by Chinese nationals. But the shocking discovery was the existence of underground tunnels that are connected to a banker. Probers believe that the banker was used as conduit of huge money that were transacted beyond notice of government agencies, primarily the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLAC). It is believed that the billions of pesos used by suspended mayor Alice Guo in the acquisition of her properties which include luxury cars, heavy equipment and a helicopter. This, aside from the huge money used in the construction of the buildings.
Clearly, the engineering office under the office of the suspended mayor did not bother to inspect the construction of the buildings which had interconnected tunnels. As found by the agencies that inspected the buildings, the supposed incorporators have their luxury houses in said buildings. On top of such findings, the there was a house inside what appears as a fabricated lake. The house in the middle of the lake is believed to be the residence of the top officials of the corporations owning the offshore gambling site. Surprisingly, government authorities did not find anyone of the officials believed to be hiding in said house.
The seemingly complicated mess involving suspended mayor Alice Guo are going deeper that probers would need more time and resources to dig. It now requires the collaborative efforts of various government agencies. Already, there is a move to put the suspended mayor behind bars following the issuance of an arrest warrant. There too is an investigation into the disqualification of the suspended mayor due to her Chinese citizenship which disqualifies her from holding elective public office.
Far from reaching a final conclusion of the ongoing senate investigation, the public is caught into following developments through the various multimedia platforms. Indeed, there are many more facts that could be discovered and the senate committee, with the help of the various government agencies, have to conduct wider and deeper digs.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com