ILOILO City – How do you solve a problem like delayed infrastructure projects?
Transparency is a must, according to Councilor Joshua Alim.
He is proposing an ordinance requiring the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its instrumentalities to furnish the city government with the following:
* detailed engineering investigations of infrastructure projects to be implemented within the territorial jurisdiction of Iloilo City
* surveys and designs
* the qualifications and capabilities of participating contractors
“There are so many projects being undertaken by DPWH here that are delayed for so many reasons such as lack of proper engineering investigation and surveys, on top of other factors attributable to contractors,” said Alim.
According to the councilor, Section 17.6 of Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) provides that no bidding and award of contract for infrastructure projects shall be made unless the detailed engineering investigations, surveys and designs for project have been sufficiently carried out and duly approved in accordance with the standards for specification prescribed by the head of the procuring entity concerned pursuant to the recommendation of the end user or implementing unit.
“Ang purpose pa gid is mabal-an sang city government nga may mga nationally-implemented projects. Kibot lang kita may mga national projects wala ‘ta kabalo,” said Alim.
Under the proposed ordinance, DPWH must also secure a Resolution of No Objection from the Iloilo City Council prior to implementing infrastructure projects, and furnish the city government with documents related to the conduct of biddings for the projects./PN
