By Politiko staff
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando claimed he had zero know of the alleged P41-billion flood control budget allocated to his province over the past four years, shifting the blame onto the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for failing to coordinate with local officials.
In an interview with Ted Failon and DJ ChaCha on Thursday, Fernando stated that the DPWH operates independently in Bulacan without keeping the provincial government in the loop regarding its infrastructure projects.
When pressed about the total budget poured into the province across his nearly three terms as governor, Fernando admitted that he holds no such figures.
“Wala kasi akong datos na hawak-hawak. We have so many projects to do,” the governor said.
Instead, Fernando insisted that the provincial administration remains focused on its own localized initiatives, such as constructing multipurpose facilities, repairing roads, and elevating flood-prone areas.
Addressing the apparent breakdown in communication between national and local agencies, the governor reiterated that the DPWH consistently bypasses his office.
“Mga project ng DPWH, hindi po nakikipag-coordinate sa amin,” Fernando lamented.
To counter the agency’s lack of transparency, Fernando noted that he issued an executive order requiring the provincial government to monitor and oversee DPWH-led projects within Bulacan’s jurisdiction.
When questioned further on how a massive P41-billion allocation over four years could slip past his radar, Fernando maintained his complete ignorance of the fund.
“I don’t know, wala po ako knowledge about it. Hindi nga po nakipag-coordinate sa amin. Hindi po pinaalam sa amin ng DPWH,” he said.
Meanwhile, with his final term as governor winding down, Fernando disclosed that he has yet to finalize his future political plans.
“Hindi ko pa alam. Pwede naman ako magpahinga or other position. Hindi ko alam. Sa ngayon nakatutok kami sa trabaho, napakadami po,” he stated.—Politiko.com.ph
