BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong asserted that the local government wants competent contractors to implement numerous public works projects to ensure that the quality of works will be pursuant to project specifications and standards.
The local chief executive claimed that based on the evaluation and assessment done by City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña, there were no anomalies that were discovered in the infrastructure projects that were previously bided out by the local government had were due for implementation.
However, he said that what was established was that there were some projects that do not have the competent contractors, thus, the need for the local government to work out the possibility of changing the contractors so that those who are qualified to implement such magnitude of works will be the ones to work on the locally funded projects.
“We want competent contractors to implement the local government’s public works projects so that the quality of the works will not be compromised. We have seen a lot of poorly implemented projects around the city and we do not want that to happen during my administration,” Mayor Magalong stressed.
Earlier, the city mayor ordered the city’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to temporarily put on hold the infrastructure projects that were bided out for review and evaluation by a team of experts before the same will be implemented.
According to him, the local government will also be strict in monitoring the compliance of all contractors to existing safety standards wherein their workers must wear their own personal protective equipment and ensure that the project sites will be safe pursuant to the occupational health and safety standards being enforced by the labor department.
Magalong pointed out that he will not hesitate to initiate the filing of complaints against erring contractors with the different government line agencies for the possible imposition of the appropriate penalties against them or their possible blacklisting for them not to be able to implement future infrastructure projects funded by the national or local governments.
He emphasized that concerned offices of the local government, [particularly the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) and the City Engineering Office (CEO), should closely monitor the compliance of all contractors to the safety standards and for the officials to immediately issue the appropriate notices of violation to the erring contractors to instil discipline among their ranks in adhering to the prescribed rules and regulations on safety in their workplaces.
Magalong stated that construction workers should be given the dignity amidst the works that they are assigned to do, thus, their employers must provide them the needed personal protective equipment for their safety in their workplaces considering that safety should be the utmost consideration in every aspect of whatever profession.
He expressed optimism that there will be contactors who will be penalized for their violations to serve as a lesson to others in complying with the prescribed rules and regulations on occupational health and safety.
By Dexter A. See
