1 contractor wins 4 road projects in 3rd

Earlier, the same bidder bags 2 other projects or a total of P102 million in a year's time

What connection, if any, does the coming 12th Asean Summit in Cebu next month to at least four road contracts worth P60-M in Bohol 's third congressional district? This question baffled no end the members of the Bohol Contractors Association after it learned that the road projects were won under a negotiated bidding with only one contractor bagging all the contracts. The lucky contractor is identified as Pershan Construction, a Manila-based outfit whose license is used by a Davao contractor. Earlier, the same contractor was awarded early this year the right to undertake a P30-M asphalt overlay project of the Panglao Circumferential Road and the repair and rehabilitation of the Loboc Bailey Bridge worth P12-M. The two projects had since been completed and the contractor is now busy prosecuting the four road projects it bagged in the third congressional district.

CONG. JALA'S REACTION

On two separate occasions, The Post tried to get the reaction of Cong. Eladio Jala in whose district the projects are located. In a text message to this paper, the third district solon admitted that it was per his request that the project would be implemented but denied having a hand in the choice of the contractor. When informed that The Post waited for two weeks to get the reaction of Director Robert Lala of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region VII, Cong. Jala volunteered the information that the regional director informed him that the project was bidded under Republic 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. This law reportedly allows an alternate mode of procurement. This was confirmed by several sources at the DPWH regional office that the four road contracts, which were won by one contractor was allowed by RA 9184. The provision that no publication was needed was allowed in the same law, the same sources confirmed. As to the justification that it has something to do with the 12th Asean Summit, the same sources at the DPWH Region VII averred that it was also used as rationale to do away with an open and competitive bidding. This means that the projects were bidded under a negotiated mode “as if it were an emergency purchase.” However, local contractors who were caught flat footed about the projects because no publication was made reacted that it can not be possible that the DPWH may invoke this alternative mode of procurement because the source of the projects' funding is “regular infra”. It was gathered that the idea to award the four controversial projects took place during the time of Regional Director Juanito Abelgas who is now the Asst. Secretary of the DPWH. It was insinuated that the projects were some sort of a pabaon by the time he will retire in January next year.

THE PROJECTS

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