BIZ BUZZ: Want projects approved? Pay up

Private companies that have to deal closely with the government have long complained about having no choice but to grease a few hands if they want their projects approved, even if they have followed all the rules and met all the bidding requirements.

Those in the energy sector are no exception, with a few telling Biz Buzz that they have had to so far cough up a whopping P45 million to get projects moving, not a small sum indeed for those wanting to produce not even 20 megawatts of power that the country needs to meet its growing needs.

They share that if they have to bear that much more in additional “fees,” then it is logical to assume that those with far bigger projects had to fork over even more, with the cash likely finding its way up and down the bureaucracy.

The Marcos administration has signaled that it wants to rid the country of pervasive corruption that has held back the country’s progress; thus, it will do well to look at the vital energy sector and check out the rot that is likewise spreading there.