The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has lifted the suspension on bidding for government infrastructure projects to prevent delays, but with a new set of strict measures to ensure transparency and accountability.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said in a memorandum that the suspension was lifted “in the exigency of the service to prevent delays in the implementation of critical national infrastructure.”
To improve transparency, all bidding will now be live-streamed on the department’s website or social media.
All projects will be geotagged at different stages, including planning, mobilization, monthly progress and completion to ensure location accuracy and validate the existence of projects.
“The accountable offices concerned are further directed to strictly review and verify the integrity of geotagged photographs and to monitor compliance,” Dizon said.
He also ordered concerned offices to ensure the accuracy and integrity of data in the Road and Bridge Information Application (RBIA) and the Project and Contract Management Application (PCMA).
“The PCMA shall serve as the official source of a project’s physical accomplishments. As such, accurate encoding, data verification and validation, and strict monitoring are mandatory to ensure the verifiable existence of all projects,” he said.
The net financial contracting capacity (NFCC) of prospective bidders will be reviewed based on financial data submitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) through the Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) and supported by the latest Audited Financial Statements (AFS), which must be stamped received by the BIR.
Bidders who fail to meet these requirements will be disqualified.
All prospective bidders will be required to submit a sworn disclosure of relations and beneficial ownership, identifying the natural persons who ultimately own, control, or benefit from the bidding entity.
Dizon said that random field validations, spot-checks and site quality assurance of visual road condition assessments are mandated to ensure that projects exist and are of acceptable quality.
“Noncompliance shall be deemed sufficient cause for the deferment or cancellation of the bidding process and shall subject the responsible officials and personnel to appropriate administrative and/or criminal actions,” he said.
