Palace: Blacklisted Chinese firms eyeing Marawi rehab project deserve second chance

Malacañang on Thursday dismissed concerns about the potential involvement of two Chinese contractors previously blacklisted by the World Bank in the rebuilding of war-torn Marawi City.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and China Geo Engineering Corporation (CGEC), two of the companies under the Bangon Marawi Consortium, were blacklisted in 2009 by the World Bank for allegedly colluding with local companies in rigging the bidding of road projects partly financed by the multi-lateral lender in 2004.

The Task Force Bangon Marawi, which oversees the rehabilitation process, said the CSCEC and CGEC are no longer on the World Bank's blacklist, having served out their suspension in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

"Naparusahan naman po sila ng World Bank. Siguro everyone is entitled to a second opportunity. Pero magmamasid tayo, magbabantay ang taumbayan," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters.

Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte was not aware that the two Chinese companies had been blacklisted.

"The reconstruction or rebuilding of Marawi City should be devoid of any stigma of impropriety," said Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra on Wednesday, adding it will be the call of the government and developer whether to allow the Chinese firms to be part of the rehabilitation efforts. 

'Notable preference'

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Thursday questioned what he called a "notable preference" given by the government to the said Chinese firms to lead the reconstruction efforts in Marawi City.

“Worries on the degree of control that China would have on these projects could not be dismissed especially since the Filipino companies included have no history of contracting big government projects," Alejano said.

"How can we make sure that the projects will remain Filipino-led and the interests of the Maranaos in particular, will be respected and given prime consideration in the rehabilitation projects given this configuration?” he added.

Alejano said the task force could not even provide the records and details of the preferred firms to join the BCM. It is also uncertain yet how the winning contractors would recover their investments.

The lawmaker also questioned the business record of the Chinese companies, citing they were once blacklisted by the World Bank and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“Given this record, should it not have caused alarm for Task Force Bangon Marawi to select the BMC? How can we assure that the Marawi rehabilitation would not be marred by corruption cases in the future with such kind of participating firms?” Alejano asked.

Alejano likewise criticized the task force's lack of detailed planning on the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

It was revealed during the briefing that the construction of the projects for the city would start by next month, but consultations are still ongoing and the task force's plans are not yet finalized.

“They have a timeline and grand proposals being presented to the public, but they have not even mapped out where these constructions will be built," Alejano said.

"Worse, they have not yet consolidated the number of displaced and affected Maranaos. How can we move forward if there is no starting point yet?” he added.

With all these developments and unresolved issues, Alejano urged the government to fast-track the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

"Sa mabilis na pag-usad ng rehabilitasyon nakadepende ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kapatid na Maranao. We cannot delay this any longer, and we cannot also let the projects here be taken advantage of for the selfish interests of a few,” he said.

Some senators had also criticized the pace of the promised development as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted that the majority of the 77,170 families who left their homes remain displaced.

The inter-agency task force had chosen the Bangon Marawi Consortium, which is composed of five Chinese and four Filipino construction companies, to come up with a plan to rebuild 250 hectares of Marawi’s ground zero.

The task force, however, clarified that the proposal of the group will be subjected to Swiss Challenge, which allows other interested developers to give counter proposals.

The Swiss challenge is expected to take place next week.

At least P17.2 billion would have to spent for the development of Marawi's ground zero consisting of 24 out of 96 barangays in the city. —With reports from Erwin Colcol and Margaret Claire Layug/RSJ/KG, GMA News