The Commission on Audit reminded the Mountain Province government to practice caution in its procedures before awarding contracts after it initially gave two infrastructure projects to a blacklisted contractor, prompting a re-bid.
The COA, in its 2023 report on the province, said the P4.95 million Mayasen Diversion Dam construction and the P3.366 million Sumangan Irrigation Canal construction was awarded to ADL General Construction in March 2023.
But the provincial government had to cancel these after it learned that ADL General Construction was among the contractors banned by the Government Procurement Policy Board from February 28, 2023 to February 28, 2024.
According the province’s Bids and Awards committee, it only learned of the blacklisting when the GPPB system refused to accept the contractor’s name on the award of a different contract.
The company was blacklisted for non-compliance with contractual obligations without a valid cause; poor performance and unsatisfactory quality of workmanship that did not meet specifications; and abandonment or non-completion of project/contract without justification, as reported by abogado.com
Mountain Province held a re-bidding for the two infrastructure projects after the contracts were cancelled. The winning bidder was Tawid Builders Corp.
The COA warned that awarding projects to a blacklisted contractor could result in delays and deprive more qualified bidders of the chance to get government contracts.
The provincial government said it would heed the COA’s recommendations and would double-check with the GPBB when it carries out its post-qualification processes and before awarding the contract.
