MARCOS ORDERS CONTRACTORS TO COMPLETE GHOST, SUBSTANDARD FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered contractors behind ghost and substandard infrastructure projects to complete them properly at their own expense, even as investigations into project irregularities continue.

President Marcos said that contractors must honor the warranties provided under their government contracts to complete the projects according to standards, pending the investigation and filing of charges against those involved in the misuse of public funds.

“One of the things that we are looking at, dahil iniisip ko kakasuhan natin sila. The cases will go on, may mga mananagot, mayroon diyang makukulong, mayroon diyan mapa-fire. Para sa akin, kailangan buuin nila iyong project dahil kung titingnan ninyo, may warranty lahat iyang project na iyan,” the President said in a press conference in Malacañan Palace.

The Chief Executive emphasized that if flood control and related projects are not completed or are executed below standards, then the contractors have to complete them at no extra cost to the government.

“Kahit sinabi nilang completed, kapag nadiskubre na hindi tama ang pagkagawa, they still have to honor the warranty that they have given us to complete the project properly,” President Marcos said.

“So we can still go back to them at sasabihin natin sa kanila, ‘Balikan ninyo iyong walang kuwentang project na ginawa ninyo at ayusin ninyo na maganda, out of your own pocket,” the President stressed.

President Marcos named retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. as chairperson of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) tasked to investigate flood control corruption within the last 10 years.

Malacañang earlier announced the two members, namely former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV and Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo, as well as the Commission’s Special Adviser, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

During the news conference, the President reiterated that the ICI will work as quickly as possible to find the persons responsible for stealing public funds meant for flood control and other infrastructure projects.

“It’s simple numbers dito, simple lang ito. Magkano ang ninakaw na pera ng mga balasubas na ito? That is what we need to know, that is what we need to fix,” President Marcos said