DBM to blacklist contractors of anomalous flood control projects
By Derco Rosal
Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman
Following the presidential directive to crack down on contractors involved in anomalous flood control projects, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is canceling the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) membership of these firms to bar them from future government procurement.
In a statement on Monday, Sept. 8, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that the Procurement Service-DBM (PS-DBM) has already canceled the PhilGEPS membership of nine companies linked to Sarah Discaya.
The move, which follows President Marcos’s directive to blacklist contractors involved in corrupt flood control projects, is set to impact more companies.
PS-DBM is on high alert to cancel the memberships of SYMS Construction Trading and Wawao Builders once the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issues an official blacklisting order.
The new government procurement law gives the implementing agency the ability to blacklist its contractors, and PS-DBM is prepared to cancel the PhilGEPS memberships of these companies so they can no longer participate in government procurement activities, the Secretary noted.
This action is in accordance with Republic Act No. 12009, also known as the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA), and its implementing rules and regulations. The cancellation of PhilGEPS membership removes the companies' records from the registry, effectively prohibiting them from joining any government procurement projects.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the disqualification of these contractors after witnessing non-existent or poor-quality flood control projects that cost millions of pesos in public funds.
The investigation is in full swing, and PS-DBM Executive Director Genmaries Entredicho-Caong said the agency is committed to advancing transparency in search of the truth.
She added that PS-DBM recognizes its responsibility to assist other government branches and personnel in ensuring there is no corruption, especially in public procurement.
She emphasized that PhilGEPS is the primary source of government procurement information and the main channel for all government procurement activities.
The DBM chief also recently met with the DPWH Secretary to discuss the extensive review of the 2026 DPWH budget, part of the efforts to restore public trust.