No anomaly in Mindanao road project – DPWH

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways Bids and Awards Committee (DPWH-BAC) has denied reports of anomalies surrounding the five-year rehabilitation and maintenance of the 123.5-kilometer Surigao-Davao-Surigao-Agusan del Norte road.

In a memorandum for DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson dated Oct. 5, DPWH-assistant secretary Gilberto Reyes, BAC chairman, said the bid documents followed the guidelines set by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for projects funded with official development assistance

Reyes said JICA in its April 16 letter concurred with the bid evaluation. He said JICA also concurred with the contract agreement entered into by DPWH with the winning bidder — the joint venture of Equi-Parco Construction Co. and Hebei Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd. —  in a letter dated Sept. 21.

He denied allegations the approved budget for the contract was P2.5 billion, saying it was only P3,422,688,199.31. “The bid of Equi-Parco/Hebei is 2.95 percent below the approved budget, not 20 percent higher,” Reyes said. 

He said disqualified bidders China Wuyi Co. Ltd. and Wijaya Karya Tbk lacked the needed documents and the  experience in undertaking something similar to the road project.