THE Iloilo City Council has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to blacklist the contractor who abandoned a road reblocking and widening project in Jaro district after only finishing 35 percent of the project more than a year ago.
Councilor Rodel Fullon Agado, chairman of the City Council committee on infrastructure, said that Manila-based Arcenwe Construction abandoned the road project at Commission Civil St. since last year after destroying the old road that led to traffic congestion in the particular road stretch.
Fullon said the blacklisting of the contractor is expected to send a message to other non-performing contractors of roads and drainage system projects in the city to complete the projects as provided in the contract.
“DPWH and its own district engineering office and even the City’s Engineering Office must be very strict in awarding contracts to the contractors who can fulfill its obligation to finish the project,” Fullon said during the council's regular session on Tuesday, September 23.
Fullon is proposing a resolution to press the DPWH district engineering office to finish, if possible, all ongoing road infrastructure projects by November 15 so that the city may enjoy the Christmas season without traffic congestion.
The DPWH district office will have to take over immediately the construction of projects abandoned by the contractor or rescind the existing contract and bid out immediately the project to other interested contractor.