GMA appoints Salazar to contractors' board

President Arroyo has appointed former Madridejos Mayor Doroteo Salazar as member of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board of the Department of Trade and Industry. Salazar, whose appointment was signed by Arroyo on September 5, took his oath of office yesterday before Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Salazar, who described his appointment as a "breakthrough in the construction industry," said he would fight for the speedy approval of new applications and renewal of contractors' licenses. A contractor himself, Salazar said he would also lobby for a representation of local contractors in the international biddings for the implementation of foreign funded projects in the Philippines. He added that local contractors were not given the opportunity to participate in giant government projects because of lack of financial capability.

He also said that now that he is appointed member of the contractors accreditation board, he would make representations to the government to help the local contractors in the guarantee deposits.

Contractors need to post a huge amount of money as bond to be able to participate in international biddings, he explained, pointing out that to ensure guarantee deposits, international contractors such as Japanese and Koreans are supported by their government. If the Philippine government can help the local contractors, they are also very much capable to undertake foreign funded projects, he said.

In terms of track records, Salazar said, most of the contractors in the country are qualified to handle government projects funded by international loans. - Fred P. Languido