Deferment of P3-B Northern Mindanao road project eyed

Lawmakers have called for the deferment of the P3-billion Surigao-Davao-Surigao (Lipata)-Agusan del Norte road maintenance and repair project because of questions raised on its bidding process.

Representatives Jose Christopher Belmonte and Winnie Castelo of Quezon City, Jim Hataman-Salliman of Basilan and Catherine Barcelona-Reyes of Camarines Norte raised the issue in House Resolution No. 2437, which questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways Bids and Award Committee’s (DPWH-BAC) decision to grant the government contract to Hebei-Equiparco Corporation despite submitting a financial bid that was 20 percent higher than the ceiling of P2.5 billion.