DTI’s turn to go after contractors
It’s not just the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that is suing erring contractors left and right.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has also filed complaints before the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) against eight contractors, most of them involved in flood control projects.
In a statement on Saturday, the DTI identified them as Legacy Construction Corp., Centerways Construction & Development Inc., Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp., MG Samidan Construction, L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc., QM Builders, EGB Construction Corp. and Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp.
Except for L.R. Tiqui Builders, the other seven companies are among the 15 contractors that President Marcos identified in August as having cornered P100 billion—or only about 20 percent—of the P545-billion contracts for flood-control projects.
Centerways was identified by the Commission on Elections as having contributed P30 million to Sen. Francis Escudero’s 2022 senatorial campaign—despite a provision in the Omnibus Election Code against such donations by any contractor engaged in construction and other such “goods or services.”
The DTI said charges were filed against the eight companies for their “reported involvement in irregular flood control projects” and “possible violations of construction industry regulations.” The Inquirer asked the agency to specify the violations, but it had had yet to respond at press time.
Other companies
DTI also said charges will be filed against eight other companies “for their alleged participation in similar flood control project anomalies.”
These are Triple 8 Construction & Supply Inc., Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., Sunwest Inc., Road Edge Trading & Development Services, SYMS Construction Trading, Wawao Builders Corp., Royal Crown Monarch Construction and Supplies Corp. and St. Timothy Construction Corp.
Except for SYMS Construction, these entities are also among the 15 contractors identified by Mr. Marcos.
St. Timothy and Alpha & Omega are owned by couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, the contractors at the center of the corruption scandal over the flood works projects, while Sunwest Inc. had been identified as a company owned by resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.
The resigned lawmaker remains abroad despite pressure to return home and answer accusations that he benefited from flood works projects by as much as P14 billion.
‘Clear message’
PCAB is a regulatory body under the DTI that issues licenses to all construction projects in the country.
The board is authorized to revoke the licenses of companies found guilty of the charges filed before it and recommend the filing of appropriate cases against them in court.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said her agency “will not allow any contractor to undermine the safety and quality of our nation’s infrastructure. Every project must reflect competence, honesty, and compliance with standards.”
“These actions send a clear message that only those who build with integrity have a place in the Philippine construction industry,” said Roque, who appeared before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Oct. 22 to shed light on PCAB’s accreditation system for contractors.—WITH REPORTS FROM JORDEENE B. LAGARE AND INQUIRER RESEARCH
