DPWH terminates P563M worth of infra projects in 3 Eastern Visayas provinces

TACLOBAN CITY –– More than P563 million worth of major infrastructure projects located in three provinces in Eastern Visayas were terminated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the failure of the contractors to finish on time.

These projects include the storm surge protection project worth P183.74 million and P89.05 million widening of the San Joaquin Bridge, both in Palo, Leyte; P140.09 million widening of cross-country road located in Caibiran-Biliran towns, both in Biliran province; and the P150.39 million San Antonio circumferential road in Northern Samar.

The move by their office to stop the construction of these major projects was due to the non-completion of the contractors as stipulated on the contracts, said Engr. Sandy Pua, DPWH-8 chief of the construction division, in a statement.

Pua said the “crackdown” against the erring contractors, whom he did not identify, complied with an order of President Duterte to run after contractors, which failed to complete the projects on time as agreed on the contract of works.

The works on the storm surge and the widening of road projects in Palo started sometime in 2016 and were targeted to be completed within two years.

But the two projects were not substantially completed on time.

The two other projects were started in 2018 but were barely 10 percent complete.

“Our problems with delayed projects will not be solved if the department will not terminate project contracts of contractors with negative accomplishments,” Pua said.

The official said that the government’s procurement rules provide that a contract is terminated if the contractor abandons the contracted works, refuses or fails to comply with a valid instruction of the government agency, or fails to proceed expeditiously and without delay despite a written notice by the implementing agency.

The project contractors can still appeal to the DPWH central office in Manila.

But if the termination will be approved and confirmed, new bidding will be held involving the projects./lzb