“We hope there is no deliberate effort to sweep this issue under the rug”
IT APPEARS that all is quiet in the public works front.
Over the weekend, most of the major dailies did not carry any story related to the infrastructure scandal which rocked the country just a few months ago. On one hand, this is an alarming development. This may also be good for us.
Except for the occasional news items on the court appearances of a former solon accused of involvement in the mess, it looks like nothing is being reported nor being said about what the government plans to do against the erring parties.
We hope there is no deliberate effort to sweep this issue under the rug. Our fear is this issue could soon be forgotten and end up as just another footnote in the long history of corruption in this country.
This may also be a good development.
The silence could mean that the government, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways, is now focused on putting both reforms and remedies on the ground.
This looks like what Secretary Vince Dizon is doing right now.
At a recent event at his alma mater, De la Salle University, Dizon spoke about “fixing the system.” He emphasized the need to have “the right people, the right resources,” noting that “without corruption, it (fixing the system) can be done.”
The present tone of Dizon’s public pronouncements is a sharp departure from the hysterical, raging sound of his earlier statements.
In contrast to this previous image of a disgusted public figure submerged in the emotion of the moment, Dizon today is calmer, more sober, and obviously focused on solving the problem rather than merely anguishing over it.
It appears Dizon is definitely on a problem-solving mode.
Last we heard, the public works czar has already made sure that a number of contractors involved in existing but allegedly substandard flood-control projects are repairing their job or doing it all over again to conform with the standards set under their contracts with the DPWH.
This is a good move by Dizon. The solution to this particular problem is, after all, in the contracts. There are provisions there which ensure that contractors will do the job in accordance with the specifications and the quality agreed upon.
Dizon knows there is no cost to this on the part of the government. The contractor must shoulder all the expenses involved in repairing, rehabilitating or redoing the project.
It is clear that when private contractors enter into a covenant with a government agency for a project, there are built-in safeguards which protect the interest of the people whose taxes fund these projects.
We understand that Dizon is making sure that contractors of alleged substandard projects comply with the penalty clauses in the contracts with the DPWH.
The good news, we heard, is that there are contractors who, on their own, have vowed to make amends for the gaps in the quality of their work. Some of them have actually started remediation works. We hope they finish these just in time for the wet season.
We hope Dizon gives the public an update soon on the success of this particular move. This will prove that a more proactive, problem-solving approach would help the government address the current infrastructure concerns.
This will also assure us that there are still contractors who are aware of their accountability under their covenants with the government.
We are assured that Dizon has put strong pressure on contractors to correct errors and gaps in their projects, and that they are fulfilling their obligations under their contracts with the DPWH.
Meanwhile, Dizon might also want to check the revised DPWH materials costing currently being used for prospective projects.
Contractors have reportedly expressed apprehension that these figures appear unusually low and may not reflect prevailing market conditions, making some of them reluctant to bid because the agency budget for the contract (ABC) may not be sufficient to cover actual costs.
With global oil prices pushing inflation higher amid tensions between the United States and Iran, these costs are widely expected to rise, which could further affect project implementation if not reviewed carefully.
Taken together, these developments underscore the importance of having a public works czar who not only enforces contract provisions but also keeps a close eye on emerging issues that could impact project execution.
All it needed was a public official who has the will to enforce the provisions of the contracts which protect taxpayers’ money. (Email: ernhil@yahoo.com)
