Contractors in P17-B anomalous projects face blacklisting – DPWH

Contractors behind various irregularities in nearly P17 billion worth of infrastructure projects undertaken in 2009 and 2010 might be asked to redo their work and possibly face blacklisting, Public Works ecretary Rogelio ingson said yesterday.

The Commission on Audit has unearthed the anomaly, and COA Chairman Grace Pulido-Tan has ordered a special audit of construction companies that bagged the contracts.

ingson said he has not seen a copy of the COA report, but assured the public that sanctions, including blacklisting, would be imposed if proven that the contractors committed irregularities.

“It would depend on the extent. I could order them to redo the project or I could have them blacklisted, so I need to see (the report first),” he said.

“The COA said that it would still conduct an audit, they have not yet conducted a fraud audit. They said that there are indications of anomalies but they have yet to come out with a detailed report,” he added.

Tan said part of the funding for the projects reportedly came from P10.2 billion in last minute pork barrel fund releases made by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo less than three months before the May 2010 presidential elections.

The other funds were sourced from the regular infrastructure program of the DPWH and the Malampaya Fund.