With sub-standard road works in mind, the provincial government has lowered the boom on contractors who resorted to construction short cuts. With Gov. Erico Aumentado in the lead role, the provincial executive signed last week Executive Order No. 24 enjoining all public works contractors participating in construction projects in the province of Bohol to use and supply only asphalt and portland cement mixes produced by batching plants duly accredited by the Bureau of Research Standards of the Department of Public Works and Highways in accordance with Department Order No. 253, series of 2003.

The crackdown against lousy construction jobs was triggered by an expose' in this paper that detailed the widespread occurrence of road cracks in the on-going pavement works in the Dauis-Panglao center road. Proven to be true, DPWH Regional Director Josefino Rigor ordered the erring contractors—the joint venture of Big Four J Construction and Northern Builders, to remove the damaged ed portions of the conreting job. Starting from Poblacion Dauis until barangay Tinago, the paving works suffered spider-like cracks that the only remedial measures recommended by the DPWH was to remove the cracked portion of the sub-standard project. According to observers, sub-standard base course preparations were to blame for the road cracks.

In his executive order, the governor noted that the asphalt and portland cement mixes supplied for civil works implemented by the provincial government and the DPWH are of varying qualities. He also noted that some were even of substandard mixes because the surface of the asphalt and concrete pavement have already peeled off too soon, spider web cracks and other infirmities appeared so that these are to be redone or subjected to early repairs including new asphalt overlay and reblocking of cement pavement such as what recently happened in Panglao island and other places in the province. A pavement job in the Cortes-Balilihan also suffered cracks.

The same executive order also calls for equipment upgrade saying that public works contractors are likewise enjoined to upgrade their equipment and use appropriate computerized technology and processes where applicable. In bidding requirement, all civil works implemented of the province and DPWH must also be included in the terms of reference and Instruction of Bidders that one of the criteria for awarding the project is the use and or supply of asphalt and portland cement mixes produced by BRD accredited batching plants….

To ensure compliance of the executive order, the provincial engineer's office shall monitor the projects undertaken by contractors and report any violation to the office of the governor and the Bids and Awards Committee for appropriate sanction in accordance with law.