The orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to promptly pay performing contractors and to regularly monitor projects will help avert a looming infrastructure crisis, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.
Lacson said these should help address the risk posed by the reluctance if not refusal of many contractors to participate in biddings for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
“Spot on. Amidst reluctance, even refusal of many contractors to participate in public biddings for the DPWH infrastructure projects, the President’s order to facilitate the payment of outstanding obligations to contractors who delivered on their contracted government projects will help prevent a looming infrastructure crisis brought about by the ongoing reforms in the DPWH in the proper utilization of the national budget,” he said of the President’s order to promptly pay “good” contractors.
In Filipino: Lacson: Utos ng Pangulo na Bayaran ang Matinong Kontratista at Bantayan ang mga Proyekto, Makakatulong na Maiwasan ang Krisis sa Imprastraktura
Last week, Lacson said the DPWH should be prepared to deal with contractors not willing to take part in bidding of projects due to lower costs of construction materials.
He said this is especially true for contractors accustomed to excessive profits due to advance payments to some legislators and DPWH and other officials.
On Monday, Malacanang said the President ordered government agencies to ensure that contractors who performed well and acted responsibly are paid. Earlier, the President ordered the monitoring of government agencies and their projects every two weeks to assess their progress, and warned agencies against submitting inaccurate or sugarcoated reports.
Lacson noted many contractors who are used to dealing with commission-minded lawmakers tend to resort to overpricing to make up for their advance payments to these lawmakers.
He said this was the case of the Discayas who collected from lawmakers after they as contractors paid them in advance.
“Their gimmick was that if the congressmen did not pay up, they would list them in their ledgers,” he said.
Citing the testimony of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Lacson said the Discayas tested many lawmakers and even regional directors and tried to collect P30 to 40 million from them. “If they didn’t pay up, they would be in the list.”
“Why charge advances to the national budget? That’s on them – charge it to experience. They gambled,” he added.
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Lacson: Utos ng Pangulo na Bayaran ang Matinong Kontratista at Bantayan ang mga Proyekto, Makakatulong na Maiwasan ang Krisis sa Imprastraktura
Malaki ang maitutulong ng mga utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na agarang bayaran ang mga kontratistang matino at regular na i-monitor ang mga proyekto upang maiwasan ang isang nakaambang krisis sa imprastraktura, ani Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes.
Diin ni Lacson, makatutulong ang mga hakbang na ito upang tugunan ang panganib na dulot ng pag-aatubili — kung hindi man tuluyang pagtanggi — ng maraming kontratista na lumahok sa mga bidding para sa mga proyekto ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Spot on. Amidst reluctance, even refusal of many contractors to participate in public biddings for the DPWH infrastructure projects, the President’s order to facilitate the payment of outstanding obligations to contractors who delivered on their contracted government projects will help prevent a looming infrastructure crisis brought about by the ongoing reforms in the DPWH in the proper utilization of the national budget,” ani Lacson kaugnay ng utos ng Pangulo na agarang bayaran ang mga “mahusay” na kontratista.
Noong nakaraang linggo, sinabi ni Lacson na dapat maging handa ang DPWH na harapin ang mga kontratistang ayaw lumahok sa bidding ng mga proyekto, lalo na dahil sa mas mababang gastos sa mga materyales sa konstruksyon.
Aniya, lalo na ito para sa mga kontratistang nasanay sa labis na kita dahil sa mga paunang bayad na ibinibigay nila sa ilang mambabatas at sa mga opisyal ng DPWH at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan.
Noong Lunes, sinabi ng Malacañang na inutusan ng Pangulo ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tiyaking mababayaran ang mga kontratistang maayos ang performance at responsable sa kanilang mga proyekto. Mas maaga ring iniutos ng Pangulo ang pagmomonitor sa mga ahensya ng pamahalaan at kanilang mga proyekto tuwing dalawang linggo upang masuri ang progreso ng mga ito, at binalaan ang mga ahensya laban sa pagsusumite ng hindi tumpak o pinapaganda lamang na mga ulat.
Binanggit ni Lacson na maraming kontratistang sanay makipagtransaksyon sa mga mambabatas na komisyon ang madalas nauuwi sa overpricing upang mabawi ang mga advance payment na ibinigay nila sa mga mambabatas na ito.
Aniya, ito ang nangyari sa kaso ng mga Discaya, na naningil umano sa mga mambabatas matapos silang bigyan ng paunang bayad bilang mga kontratista. “Ang kanyang gimmick, pag ’di kayo nagbigay sa akin, isasama ko kayo sa ledger,” ani Lacson.
Batay sa testimonya ng dating DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, sinabi ni Lacson na sinubukan ng mga Discaya ang maraming mambabatas at maging ang ilang regional director, at tinangkang maningil ng P30 milyon hanggang P40 milyon mula sa kanila. “Kung hindi, isasama sa listahan,” aniya.
“Bakit icha-charge sa national budget kung nag-advance ang kontratista sa kung sino man? Sila ’yan. Parang charge to experience. Sumugal kayo,” dagdag niya.
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