DPWH: Contractor to be held liable for Oriental Mindoro flood control project defects
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- DPWH to hold contractor liable for substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro
- Contractor ordered to undertake repairs worth over P20 million; probe widened, cases to be filed
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince B. Dizon (Photo courtesy of DPWH)
The contractor behind a flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, will be held liable after inspections revealed substandard construction, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Monday, Jan. 26.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon identified the contractor as New Big Four J and he said the construction firm will be issued a demand letter to undertake repairs estimated at over P20 million, stressing that liability cannot be avoided even after corrective works are completed.
The projects under scrutiny include a road dike and esplanade along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Barangay San Andres, covering Sitios 1 to 4.
Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor inspected the sites and found broken sections and construction that deviates from approved plans.
Dizon also flagged potential links between the contractor and former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
He said all relevant information will be forwarded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Ombudsman for proper investigation.
Past contracts related to the projects were signed by former Mimaropa regional director Gerald Pacanan, who is currently detained.
Dizon assured that cases will continue to be filed to uphold accountability.
The DPWH chief added that investigations will extend to the full stretch of the Naujan flood control project, as some portions were awarded to other contractors.
He said he will personally visit Oriental Mindoro with technical experts in the coming weeks to expedite repairs and verify anomalies.