Win Gatchalian eyes barring contractors linked to gov’t. project anomalies

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is considering the creation of a special provision that would temporarily ban contractors linked to anomalies in government projects, following issues that emerged surrounding the country’s flood control projects.

“Ang pinag aaralan namin [legal team] baka maglagay kami ng special provision doon sa mga contractor na sangkot sa anomalya. Wag na pasalihin muna sa mga government projects kasi tuloy ang ligaya eh,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

(We are studying if we could add a special provision that would temporarily ban contractors with anomalies from joining government projects because their scheme would continue.)

“So pinag-aaralan namin na magkaroon ng special provision na kung may kaso, whether may judgment or wala eh pagbawalan na sumali sa govt. projects sa lahat [ng govt agencies], hindi lang DPWH,” added the Senate finance committee chairman.

(So we're studying the possibility of including a special provision that would bar contractors with cases, whether there's a decision or ongoing, from participating in government projects across all agencies, not just the Department of Public Works and Highways.)

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. earlier revealed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors.

“Ilang buwan na lang bago mag bagong taon, I doubt kung may ma pa-file na kaso na substantial o merong makukulong in the next few months pero kung hindi natin ginawa yun, mananalo nanaman sila kontrata, ganun naman gagawin nila pag hindi nakatingin ang tao,” Gatchalian said.

(There are only a few months left before the new year. I doubt any substantial cases will be filed or that anyone will be detained in the coming months. But if we don’t act now, these contractors will win contracts again. They will repeat their actions when no one’s watching.)

The senator earlier threatened that no budget will be allocated for flood control projects next year if DPWH is unable to fix its system in addressing the country’s perennial flooding problem.

The budget for flood control projects under the 2026 National Expenditure Program stands at P274.926 billion.

DPWH

Gatchalian also told dzBB that DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan should ensure there are no “ghost projects” in 2026, as the latter will face the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“'Yung mga project na ipo-propose nila, personally, dapat tignan niyang mabuti at siguruhin na ito ay effective (Bonoan should ensure he scrutinizes and ensures that the projects that DPWH proposes are effective),” the senator said.

Gatchalian earlier suggested Bonoan should voluntarily leave his post as DPWH chief “out of delicadeza.”

In response, the DPWH secretary said he will leave the decision to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if he needs to take a leave amid the probe into the alleged corruption in flood control projects.

Full disposition needed

House InfraComm Co-Chair and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep Terry Ridon shared the same sentiments in holding corrupt contractor accountable, but pointed out that a full deposition is needed.

“Wala akong debate na tanggalin yang mga yan pero kailangan lang pag-aralan kung paano,” Ridon told dzBB in a separate interview.

“Baka unfair yun kasi wala pang full disposition,” He said, referring to Gatchalian's proposal.

(I have no objection to removing them, but we just need to study how to do it. Maybe it's unfair to blacklist them without full disposition.)

Ridon also said aside from being blacklisted from government projects, corrupt contractors should face “capital punishment.”

“Pag ghinost mo yung proyekto, talagang hindi ka na pwede. Lahat nung management team na kasankot sa isang blacklisted na kumpanya, kahit na magtayo ka ng bagong kumpanya, hindi na pwede,”  the lawmaker said.

(If you ghosted a project, you’re definitely banned. Everyone on the management team involved with a blacklisted company will be banned, even if they set up a new company.) — RF, GMA Integrated News