DPWH execs allowed to sign infra contracts anew despite ICI reco

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has restored the authority of its officials to approve and sign various infrastructure-related financial transactions under a new department order, despite an earlier recommendation to reduce approval powers as part of anti-corruption reforms.

Under Department Order No. 74, signed by Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon on June 10, the DPWH amended the levels of authority of agency officials for financial management transactions and delegated additional approval powers within the department.

The order states that the main revision for Central Office transactions is the delegation to the Undersecretary for Support Services of the authority to approve Notices of Transfer of Allocation (NTA) without a monetary limit. The order also replaced Department Order No. 104, series of 2021.

The attached authority matrix shows that regional directors, district engineers, bureau directors, service directors, and Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) officials may approve and sign various transactions involving contractor payments, consultancy contracts, equipment procurement, maintenance and operating expenses, and other infrastructure-related disbursements, subject to prescribed limits.

For contractor payments, the matrix authorizes regional directors to approve transactions of up to P300 million, while district engineers may approve transactions of up to P100 million. Certain Central Office officials and UPMO directors were also granted approval authority over transactions within their respective jurisdictions.

The issuance came months after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) reportedly recommended reducing the approval authority of regional and district officials following its review of alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

The ICI had proposed lowering procurement and approval thresholds at field offices to strengthen oversight and minimize opportunities for corruption in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

However, the new department order retains approval authority for regional and district offices under an updated financial management framework.

The DPWH order did not mention the ICI recommendations and did not explain the rationale behind maintaining the approval thresholds.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Dizon on the matter but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. This story will be updated once his statement becomes available. — RSJ, GMA News