BAGUIO CITY – Some fifty-six infrastructure projects having a total project cost of more than P661.47 million will be implemented by the Department of Public works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) in the different parts of the city this year.
Engr. Alexander Castañeda, DPWH-BCDEO district engineer, said the bidding for the programmed projects this year was quite late because of their adherence to the desire of some officials to wait for the issuance of the availability of funds prior to the conduct of bidding as a departure from the old practice of early bidding short of award despite the absence of sure funding.
For the first five projects having a total worth P82.6 million, he disclosed that pre-detailed engineering works are being done for the three projects, particularly on the road-right-of-way problems for the western link of the circumferential road, processing of tree cutting permit for the Kayang St. Project, road-right-of-way problems for the Kennon by-pass road with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and preparation of plans for the other two projects, specifically the rehabilitation and repair of the Senate building annex 3 and the repair and rehabilitation of the Senate Mansion.
Of the 34 major infrastructure projects having a total cost of P107.3 million, the district engineer admitted six projects failed in the bidding process and were subjected to re-advertisement, 10 projects are now subject to post-qualification evaluation by the bids and awards committee (BAC), 10 others were issued the notices of award, while the remaining 8 projects 4 other projects are undergoing advertisement to call for interested bidders.
Castañeda disclosed that of its 17 other projects that were funded this year having a total project cost of P345,.76 million, all the projects were underway while some of the contractors of the projects were given warnings for the formulation of a more detailed program of activities with weekly physical targets, together with the required additional input of resources to help in completing the projects right on schedule.
Some of the contractors were also issued warnings, according to Castañeda, for them to formulate the appropriate catch-up plans on a forthnightly basis to help them eliminate acquired slippage for their assigned projects.
He called on contractors who were awarded projects to strictly comply with the program of work for their projects to guarantee the completion of their works within the prescribed schedule to prevent the inconveniences caused by their projects to the motoring and commuting public.
He assured the public that appropriate monitoring is being done by their office on the various projects that are currently being implemented in the different parts of the city to allow the contractors to work double time and make sure that the workmanship of their projects will be guaranteed for the said projects to last their prescribed economic life.
By HENT
