To cap the year 2021, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) held a dialogue meeting with the group of contractors to come up with viable solution to concerns that may impede construction developments.
DPWH Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado and the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA) headed by its President, Mr. Wilfredo L. Decena sat down together on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 as the DPWH Chief wanted to deal with factors causing project delays and to discover ways in resolving those constraints in project implementation.
The DPWH - PCA Meeting was also participated by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut; Undersecretaries Maximo L. Carvajal, Roberto R. Bernardo, Eugenio R. Pipo Jr., and Maria Catalina E. Cabral; Assistant Secretaries Antonio V. Molano Jr., Wilfredo Mallari, Ador G. Canlas, Eric A. Ayapana, and Mel John I. Versoza; Regional Directors Nomer Abel P. Canlas and Jovel Mendoza; and Bureau Directors Aristarco Doroy, Reynaldo Faustino, Medmier Mallig, Edgardo Garces; and among others.
Other attendees from the constructors group include PCA Executive Director Ibarra G. Paulino; PCA Project Officer Anthony A. Mariano; Mr. Augusto F. Manalo; and Engr. Peter Paul Dy Jr.
As DPWH and the contractors are partners in infrastructure development, this meeting will enable the Department to know the impediments confronting the construction sector in order to speed up project completion nationwide, said Secretary Mercado.
More than the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, other challenges in the construction industry requires immediate attention and solution.
Among the issues and concerns are the increase in cost of construction materials; contract price escalation; right-of-way problems; and delayed processing of payments.
As a matter of policy, contractors are also required to secure necessary permits from concerned local government units (LGUs) and relevant government agencies such as quarry permits to continue with the implementation of proposed projects.