Due to the reported delays in infrastructure projects over limitations in the capability of domestic contractors, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants to open the door for more foreign contractors in the light of the President’s most ambitious “Build Build, Build program.
To do this, Gatchalian told reporters he would file a bill to amend the 80-year-old Commonwealth Act 541 which imposes restrictions on foreign contractors.
He cited the need to amend Commonwealth Act No. 541, which gives preference to Filipino or US contractors to handle the construction and repair of public works.
His proposed measure, Gatchalian said, would allow foreign contractors to participate in public construction projects in support of the government’s Build, Build, Build program.
“We will file a legislative measure to allow foreign contractors to participate in government projects,” said Gatchalian in an interview after the Senate hearing on foreign investment laws.
Since the direction is to build more infrastructure and to have simultaneous construction projects, he emphasized that foreign contractors should be allowed to join government projects.