Tight screening of bridge contractors sought
A lawmaker has called for tighter screening of contractors planning to join bidding for the P3.1 billion special bridges project to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) next year.
Camarines Sur Rep. Elmer Panotes said that the DPWH should avoid getting into the same pitfalls encountered by the past administration by tapping builders that were remiss in their obligations.
Panotes, a member of the House committee on public works and highways, said that getting only reputable companies was crucial in ensuring the success of the Aquino administration’s first bridge development program.
The DPWH will either build or rehabilitate 91 bridges covering a total of 3,765 meters of steel bridges over the next two years.
Panotes said that the DPWH should heed the results of the comprehensive review of the Philippine Bridges Program in the past three administrations which identified the good and bad eggs among the contractors.
