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The head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) finally spoke up about the controversial C-5 road extension project that was allegedly given double funding in the 2008 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane clarified the issues during a meeting Tuesday with DPWH officials.

Documents provided by the DPWH pointed out that the agency had allocated P400 million for the southern Metro Manila project out of its total budget for 2008.

Of this amount, P200 million is allotted to a flyover along Sucat Road while an additional P200 million will go to another flyover, this time situated along Coastal Road.

Ebdane also said the road extension will link Sucat Road and Pulang-Lupa, which is surrounded by properties of Senate President Manuel Villar. The senator is being alleged to have made the "double allocation" in the GAA.

"Yung sinasabing road section na ito, tapos na ito from Sucat to Quirino Avenue. It's beyond Pulang Lupa. Property niya [Sen. Villar] ito pero may kalsada na ito. Pero tapos na ito, matagal [na]. Ang [pinag-uusapan] na is after Quirino Avenue papuntang Coastal road para 'yung mga taga-Cavite magamit 'yung C-5," Ebdane explained.

Because of the ongoing Senate probe, Ebdane said he fears the remaining budget for the completion of C-5 might be no longer be released and the project ould eventually become a literal "road to nowhere."

"Sa ngayon, ang pinag-usapan tungkol dun sa pondo ay so much. What we need actually is P2.7 billion more, to finish this project, itong C-5, from Coastal Road up to North Expressway," he said.

Villar: Lacson wrong

Earlier, Villar asserted Sen. Panfilo Lacson was wrong in saying the budget for the C-5 road project and the Carlos P. Garcia Avenue are one and the same.

"Walang dalawang budget para dito sa dalawang kalye, dalawang proyekto ito, dalawang flyover yung isa, kumokonekta sa sucat road, at yung isa ay magkokonekta sa coastal road...dalawang flyover ang pinaguusapan natin," Villar said.

Villar also said Lacson should review the budget process.

"Sana tingnan muna ni Ping kung ano yung budget process," he added.

On Monday's session at the Senate Lacson detailed more insertions in the 2008 GAA aside from the P200-million double appropriation for the C-5 extension road project of Villar in Parañaque City.

First, Lacson pointed out a P200 million budget allocation for the C-5 road extension project in Paranaque. He then pointed out another P200 million budget allocation for the Carlos P. Garcia avenue, which he said refers to the same stretch of road.

Lacson had been questioning Villar's role in the project and his possible involvement in the double insertion.

Senate Finance Commmittee Chair Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile confirmed Monday it was Villar who inserted the second P200 million allocation in the C-5 road extension project in the 2008 GAA, but he said it was "additional funding" for the project and not a separate allocation. With reports from Jorge Cariño, Karen Davila, and Lynda Jumilla, ABS-CBN News