MANILA, Philippines – Nagkasundo ang mga lider ng Senado at si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na agad bayaran ang mga kontratista ng pampublikong imprastraktura na itinuturing na “of good standing.”
“I concur. We cannot lump the legitimate and honest contractors with the questionable ones. Records will show who’s who,” pahayag ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Nauna nang iniutos ni Pangulong Marcos ang agarang paglalabas ng bayad para sa mga kontratistang “of good standing” upang makatulong sa pagtamo ng target na paglago ng ekonomiya ngayong taon, ayon kay Palace press officer Claire Castro noong Lunes.
Sumang-ayon din si Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson at sinabing makakaiwas ito sa posibleng krisis sa imprastraktura.
“Spot on. Amidst reluctance, even refusal of many contractors to participate in public biddings for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects, PBBM’s order to facilitate the payment of outstanding obligations to contractors who delivered on their contracted government projects will help prevent a looming infrastructure crisis brought about by the ongoing reforms in the DPWH in the proper utilization of the national budget,” ani Lacson.
Dagdag pa niya, mahihikayat din nito ang iba pang matinong kontratista na lumahok sa mga public bidding ng pamahalaan.
“In the same vein, erring contractors must be punished by withholding, even nonpayment, penalties and the filing of criminal cases against them, including seizure of performance bonds on improperly and undelivered or ghost projects,” dagdag niya. RNT/MND
