BACOLOD City Councilor Caesar Distrito urged Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Wenceslao Lenao Jr. and District Engineer Abraham Villareal to strictly monitor the agency’s projects in the city.
Distrito, who authored the resolution for the purpose passed on Wednesday, said the DPWH should strictly monitor their projects to follow the timetable and deadline of its construction, and if necessary, to secure compliance for those projects that are already delayed or beyond the allowed period.
“In Bacolod City, there are several road projects left unattended by the contractors with some that are left untouched for several months already,” he said.
Distrito added that such practice done by these contractors should not be taken for granted since it contradicts the goal of the government to deliver quality, safe and timely infrastructure projects to the public, therefore, the necessary penalties should be imposed on them.
The councilor cited DPWH Department Order (DO) No. 37, series of 2015 or the “Disqualification of Contractors with Liquidated Damages on Ongoing DPWH Infrastructure Projects,” which provides that contractors facing either, delayed completion of work exceeding to ten percent of specified contract time or total sum of liquidated damages from delayed project exceeding to ten percent of the total sum of the contract price, shall be disqualified to join in DPWH projects.
Distrito added that aside from being disqualified to participate in the bidding for DPWH projects, contractors will also pay for the incurred liquidated damages over the delayed projects in accordance with the rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.