Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday, January 27, called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prepare for contractors who may refuse to participate in project bidding because of lower construction material costs.
“The DPWH should anticipate how to deal with contractors ‘unwilling’ to participate in the bidding of projects due to reduced cost of construction materials,” Lacson said on his X account.
He noted that some contractors accustomed to large profits, often secured through early advances to legislators and DPWH officials after the National Expenditure Program (NEP) was finalized, may resist reforms.
“Their early advances to legislators after the NEP was finalized will not help obviate a looming infrastructure crisis,” he added.
Lacson previously exposed an elaborate system of kickbacks in flood control and other infrastructure projects during Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings and in two privilege speeches last year. The scheme allegedly involved contractors, lawmakers, and DPWH officials.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has yet to schedule its next hearing on the flood control anomalies.