Pershan Const. Pacman in local construction biz?

Remember the fictional film character Pacman who gobbles up everything in its path? Well, Pacman has its own version in Bohol 's construction market in Pershan Construction when it was learned that it was also interested to win at least three more contracts in the third congressional district up for bidding in Cebu tomorrow. The controversial construction outfit earned the notoriety in the local construction industry after it bagged four contracts amounting to P64 million all by its lonesome. The Post broke the exclusive story about Pershan's propensity of bagging contracts all by itself. When four more projects costing more than P98 million in the third district were advertised and up for bidding, local contractors heaved a sigh of relief believing that this time they will be given a share of the action. Only to learn that Pershan is also interested to participate in the bidding of least three of the four projects. A local contractor, YS Construction, was reported interested to participate in the P38 million Sagbayan-Carmen Road Pavement Project.

But he was convinced into giving up the contract because Pershan is also casting a moist eye on the project along with the P14 million and P30 million projects which are all contiguous with the earlier projects it won like the Carmen-Dat-an Road Improvement Project and the S-Bullones-Jagna Road Pavement Project. Saying enough is enough, Ismael Malagar, president of the Bohol Contractors Association brought again to the attention of Gov. Erico Aumentado the “Pacman-like” behavior of the contractor vis-à-vis Bohol projects. The governor reportedly balked of the selfish attitude of the contractor and vowed to bring the matter to the President. Asked what was the excuse given this time so that Pershan would bag the contracts, Malagar was informed that the reason cited was the recent Con-ass. Whatever that means, Malagar and the governor just scratched their heads when they heard of the stupid excuse why Pershan was favored to win the contracts this time around. In the first four contracts where no advertisement was made and Pershan also won the projects, the reason cited was the cancelled 12th Asean Summit.

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