QC gets tough vs erring contractors

Quezon City Feliciano Belmonte Jr. cancelled yesterday infrastructure contracts worth P9.5 million and blacklisted four contractors for their failure to finish projects on time.

The crackdown on erring contractors was ordered by Belmonte after road projects were left unattended, resulting in heavy traffic in affected communities.

Belmonte earlier warned contractors that they would be dealt with accordingly if they continue to ignore the deadlines.

Names of erring contractors were withheld pending further investigation, but they are no longer allowed to join from any bidding from the city government infrastructure project which is being conducted quarterly.

Ordered cancelled were the P1.5-million improvement and asphalting of Halcon street in Barangay Salvacion which was supposed to be completed on March 5. Another project is the drainage improvement on Scout Rallow street in Barangay Sacred Heart which was due for completion last May 18.

Meanwhile, the road improvement and concreting of Bayes and Marianito streets in Barangay Gulod in Novaliches was abandoned after being only eight percent complete. In Barangay Krus na Ligas, another road project costing P3.625 million was also abandoned.

City engineer Joselito Cabungcal had earlier recommended the termination of contract and the forfeiture of performance bonds posted by the contractors for abandoning their projects.

The concreting and improvement of the city’s roads and drainage and opening of new roads is among the priority project of the city government. – Perseus Echeminada