OROQUIETA, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provicial Council) of Misamis Occidental has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to investigate alleged irregularities or violation of laws in the conduct of public biddings for infrastructure projects in District 1, Misamis Occidental province.
The SP, in particular, asked DPWH to look into the case of a District Engineer regarding the “suspicious circumstances” of the award of infrastructure projects by the DPWH, Misamis Occidental First District Engineering Office (known as DPWH-I).
In an official complaint , one of the bidders, Grace Construction, alleged that contractors for local infrastructure projects—oftentimes representing the lowest or the second-lowest bids—were disqualified over seemingly minor grounds, including having “one dump truck that is not in good condition”, and “being unavailable for verification of capability inspection.”
Moreover, notices of disqualification were sent to ineligible bidders on a non-working day (Saturday), whereupon they were instructed to reply within three (3) calendar days.
At least one company (Grace Construction) complied to this timeframe, but they never received any further advice from the DPWH District 1 Bids and Awards Committee.
These alleged irregularities prompted the SP of Misamis Occidental to file two Resolutions (249-21 and 250-21), requesting DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Greco Belgica to investigate the members of the District 1 Bids and Awards Committee.
The SP also expressed concern over reports that certain “insiders” at the DPWH District-I Engineering Office have become agents of surety bonds offered to contractors while others encourage contractors to state in their progress billings or statement of work accomplished that the work progress status is at 75% already when in fact it is still at 50%, thereby making the progress payment not based on actual work done, in effect, an overpayment.
“These also need to be looked into because if true, they violate laws, rules and regulations designed to put in place mechanisms to protect the interest of the Government, safeguard the quality of infra projects, prevent graft and corruption, and also ensure that public servants act with the highest degree of professionalism, integrity, honesty and excellence,” the resolution, drafted last month stated.
The SP said DPWH-l must also be heard and the most ideal office to investigate the truth would be the agency itself.
