SENATOR Robin Padilla on Thursday called on the Department of Public Works and Highways to go after those behind the construction of substandard public schools.

During the Senate hearing on DPWH’s proposed 2023 budget, Padilla showed photos of a public school in Gapan, Nueva Ecija which was heavily damaged by Typhoon Karding in September.

Padilla noted that nearby houses were not as affected by the typhoon.

“Wala po ba tayong paraan para alamin kung ang material po nito ay substandard? Napaka-imposible na ang bahay sa paligid niya na walang architect o engineer ay ayos. Pero dito lahat na talino nandoon dapat, ang galing, tingnan nyo ang itsura. Yan ang tanong ko. Walang nag-checkup nito kung ito po ba ay substandard,” Padilla asked.

“Tingnan n’yo ang paaralan, ang bubong. Parang hinipan ni Superman. Nawala lahat,” he added.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that public projects have a one-year warranty and erring contractors may be blacklisted.

Bonoan agreed that such cases must be investigated.

“We cannot tolerate, di natin pababayaan po na substandard ang ginagamit,” he said.