CH fast-tracks bidding of projects to beat ban

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Government is accelerating the bidding process of several infrastructure projects to beat the ban on public works as the local campaign period kicks off next week.

City Engineer Joel Reston, in a report from the city’s public information office, said the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has awarded at least five batches of projects since January this year.

“We have been working to award these projects to the winning contractors before March 25,” Reston said.

Most projects are road concreting and drainage systems, renovation of government buildings and properties, and construction of school buildings and other facilities.

Among the projects that the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) bid out earlier this month include the Phase 4 of the construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) amounting to P916.8 million. 

Phase 4 includes the furnishing and completion of the 4th and 5th levels, and the structural construction of levels 8, 9, and 10 according to the specifications envisioned by

Mayor Michael Rama.

“Part of our TOR (terms of reference) is that a contractor can qualify for the project if it has a rating of AAAA from the PCAB (Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board). This is a prerogative of the City to ensure high quality of the project,” Reston said.

The BAC is already conducting post-qualification of the winning bidder. Rama is expected to sign the “Notice of Award” for the winning contractor soon.

Aside from that, there were also other infrastructure projects worth P38.6 million that were bid out this year.

These include the construction of Lorega-San Miguel’s barangay health center, road concreting and drainage system in Barangays Luz, Suba, Basak San Nicolas, Lorega-San Miguel, Paril, Kalunasan, Adlaon, Tagbao, Lahug, Busay and Sambag II.

The bidding for the repair and renovation of the 9th floor of City Hall’s executive building amounting to P11 million was also completed along with the construction of a four-storey, 20-classroom school building for Suba Elementary School worth P35.7 million and the renovation and improvement of Barangay Labangon’s PWD Building and Livelihood Center worth P3 million.

Government projects are banned starting on March 25 as provided for in the guidelines of the Commission on Elections. However, ongoing projects and those that have been given notices of an award before the deadline are exempted from the election ban.

“We have to submit a request for exemption to the Comelec. The Office of the Mayor is collating these already for submission,” Reston said as the DEPW starts compiling all supporting documents for the exemption. — FPL (FREEMAN)