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House may subpoena DPW on hemodialysis fiasco
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Posted on Dec 13 2004
The House of Representatives may have to resort to its subpoena powers to compel the Department of Public Works to submit pertinent documents relating to the controversial hemodialysis project on Saipan.
Acting House Speaker Timothy Villagomez said his office sent a notice to DPW in November 2004 requesting that it submit all the necessary information within 15 days or before Dec. 3.
“They never did. I’m disappointed that the letter of the Legislature was not dealt with some authority…I may ask the speaker to exercise his subpoena powers to make DPW comply with the request. I don’t understand why the documents should not be made available,” said Villagomez.
He said his office had called the office of the DPW Secretary John Reyes but the latter was not available.
“My office called to try to inquire at the status of those documents. We were told they [DPW] would look into it,” said the lawmaker.
Villagomez, who heads the House hemodialysis panel, asked Reyes “to submit all documents, contracts, correspondences, purchase orders, change orders, and any other information relating to the project implementation.”
“After the committee has a chance to review all documents, it will hold an oversight hearing to determine whether or not any person or entity should be held accountable for the project budget shortfall and the next proper course of action. This project is of great concern to the Legislature and we expect your full cooperation,” he said.
This developed as Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed into law Friday a bill reprogramming $5.8 million for the project.
The bill, authored by Reps. Villagomez, Janet Maratita, and Jesus Attao, was introduced following findings that its original funding had been depleted, although it was only about 40-percent complete. The 11th Legislature had appropriated $11.8 million of capital improvement project funds for the project.
Of the amount, the Department of Public Health awarded a $5.6 million contract to AIC Marianas to construct the facility.
The remaining budget was reportedly used for several change orders stemming from a faulty design and administrative activities.
