Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar has so far recorded the highest numbers of blacklisted non-performing or scheming contractors.
“Let this be a warning to our contractors that this administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is serious in its anti-corruption drive and will not tolerate those who bagged big amount of civil works contract but deliberately violate the law for personal gains,” said Secretary Villar.
In the last two (2) decades under three (3) administrations, DPWH from July 2016 to this date has banned a total of 25 contractors, the most number of erring contractors with only five (5) from 2010 to June 2016, and only eight (8) in 2005 to 2010.
Contractors who violate the terms and conditions of contracts may face blacklisting or be suspended from participating in any government project in accordance to existing laws and policies.
As administrative sanction, the blacklisted contractor is prevented from participating in all government projects for a period of one (1) year based on the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9184 or otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“This is a testament that collusion between contractors and DPWH officials is not being tolerated. If any of our implementing offices are tolerating erring contractors by letting them continue with their projects without sanctioning them, the Department will not hesitate in imposing disciplinary action against them”, added Secretary Villar.
Secretary Villar issued on January 31, 2020 a blacklisting order to St. Gerrard Construction General Contractor & Development Corporation which has P8.861 Billion worth of contracts for various projects was suspended for the delay in implementation of a building project in Indang, Cavite.
Also handed with suspension order on September 6, 2018 for a period of one year was Syndite Construction Corporation, which has bagged various project contracts amounting P 5.588 Billion, due to negative slippage of more than 15% in the construction of a flood control system in Cagayan.
Although thousands of public works projects are being undertaken, systems are in place in the Department to ensure that these contracts are stringently monitored and safeguarded from any negligence.
Secretary Villar pioneered a DPWH monitoring system using drones and geographic-based status reports with the progress of the projects confirmed via satellite photography or geotagging to counter ghost projects.
A tech-based initiative called DPWH Infratrack application also facilitate virtual monitoring of civil works projects for a more accurate measurement of contractor’s accomplishments.