2 China firms eyed for Marawi rehab cleared by World Bank
The two Chinese companies previously banned by the World Bank (WB) may participate in the planned massive development of Marawi City since the blacklist is “not active anymore,” according to Task Force Bangon Marawi chair Eduardo del Rosario.
Del Rosario said the two companies — China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and China Geo Engineering Corporation (CGC) — are “legitimate” and have been allowed anew to undertake projects by the WB.
The sanctions imposed on the two firms over rigging al-
legations of certain projects in the country in 2009 have been lifted by the World Bank in 2014, said Del Rosario, also head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
“Even World Bank provided projects or gave projects to Chinese Construction way back in 2016 so meaning to say, the blacklisting is not active anymore,” Del Rosario said during a press conference in Marawi City. They are legitimate. They are not blacklisted,” he added.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, in the same press briefing, said the two companies deserve a second chance since they already served the penalty imposed by the World Bank.
“They have been penalized by the WB so everyone’s entitled to a second opportunity. Let’s remain vigilant, the nation must remain vigilant,” he said in Filipino.
Del Rosario, likewise, assured there would be no collusion in the bidding of the Marawi rehabilitation projects despite the participation of the two firms.
The two Chinese firms are part of the Bangon Marawi consortium negotiating a 117.2-billion contract with the government to rebuild war-torn Marawi City.
He also recognized that CSCEC, considered the biggest construction company in the world, has the capacity to undertake massive projects like the rehabilitation of Marawi City.
Once the government finalizes the proposal from the Bangon Marawi consortium, the project will be subjected to a Swiss challenge that allows rival firms to submit competing offers.