BACOLOD CITY – This highly-urbanized city is considering terminating two drainage projects being handled by the same contractor due to delays in their completion.
GASATAYA (Glazyl Masculino)
Mayor Greg Gasataya announced that these projects are located in Purok Nangka, Barangay 3 and the reclamation area near the Pope John Paul II Tower.
Gasataya said that he has directed the City Legal Office (CLO) to review the contracts after the contractor failed to meet its agreement with the city government. “We will check compliance. If these projects did not comply with the agreement, the city will move to terminate the projects,” he added.
Last month, the mayor ordered the City Engineer’s Office to submit a comprehensive list and status report of all flood control and drainage projects in this city.
According to Gasataya, although the contractor received mobilization funds and initiated work, it has failed to complete the projects on schedule. One of the projects, he said, is nearing completion but delays have already caused flooding in the area.
Gasataya noted that this situation may lead to the contractor being blacklisted. “I already asked the CLO to look into the matter,” he said.
To support this effort, Gasataya issued Executive Order No. 7 last month, establishing the Bacolod City Contract Termination Review Committee. The committee is tasked with evaluating procurement contracts for potential termination, in accordance with Section 71.4.6 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 12009 (an amendment to the Government Procurement Reform Act).
The committee is chaired by City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu, with Bids and Awards Committee chairperson Hermilo Pa-oyon as vice-chairman. Members are City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo, City Planning Division head Mary Jean Ramos, Budget Officer Maria Imelda Williams, acting City Accountant Jeremae Ann Ceriaco, City Engr. Loben Rafael Ceballos, and a representative from the concerned end-user department.
The executive order stated that the committee is mandated to assist the mayor, acting as the Head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE), in ensuring procurement contracts are carried out efficiently, transparently, and in full compliance with government regulations.
It may also recommend the suspension of suppliers and service providers when warranted. All recommendations from the committee are subject to the approval of the mayor.