DOTr cracks down on delinquent contractors

Government contractors in charge of key mass transport projects were warned on Tuesday that they may not get paid or worse, be blacklisted should they exceed the 30-day period set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for project delays.

To ensure that needed infrastructure projects were completed on schedule, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the issuance of a memo for the inclusion in government contracts of a provision stating that a work slippage of more than 30 days would result in the nonpayment and cancellation of the contract and blacklisting of the contractor.

The government will then be authorized to hire another contractor to complete the project.

Tugade said this was in compliance with the directive of President Duterte who earlier complained about delays in government projects.

The order takes effect immediately and covers contractors who are “presently engaged” in government projects.

Among the DOTr projects scheduled to be completed within the year were the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (April), New Panglao Airport (June), Mactan-Cebu International Airport (June) and the Light Rail Transit 2 extension project (August). —Jovic Yee