Contractors with defective projects can’t bid – DPWH

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Workds and Highways (DPWH) put its foot down and said contractors who have defective projects will no longer be eligible to bid for future government projects. 

In a statement, the DPWH said the names of contractors who fail to observe and comply with their contract will be submitted to the DPWH Central Procurement Office for Civil Works to be included in the computerized registry of eligible contractors so that they will no longer be allowed to participate in any future DPWH bids.

Following its right quality policy, the DPWH has also tightened its project inspection and quality assurance by engaging private firms to conduct quality assurance inspection of DPWH infrastructure projects nationwide

“Our civil works procuring units — namely project management offices, regional and district offices — need to be on tight watch and guarantee that our contractors perform their responsibilities or obligations stated in their contracts,” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said. 

This is in line with the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 which states that corrective or repair works on any defects in their completed projects within warranty period caused by inferior materials or poor workmanship will bar contractors from participating in future project bids. 

Singson also warned DPWH officials who fail to implement the law, saying they will be sanctioned in accordance with Civil Service rules and regulations.

He believes these measures will lessen the increasing number of public works projects which were issued certifications of completion by DPWH implementing offices. These same projects are the ones that end up not being issued certificates of acceptance after the one year defect liability period had lapsed.

The DPWH implementing offices were also directed by Singson to review and list all infrastructure contracts that were already issued a certificate of project completion yet were not issued a certificate of acceptance.

If these contractors fail to comply within the 90-day period from the time notice to repair works was issued, Singson said their performance security bond will be forfeited. The bond is used by concerned DPWH field units to do repair work. – Rappler.com