COA probe requested over raking in of projects by a contractor in CAR

July 7, 2018 Metro BLISTT

Anti-corruption watchdog Citizens Crime Watch is seeking confirmation of the supposed “can of worms” reeking out from at least 10 multi-million public works projects in the Cordillera allegedly cornered by a single construction firm.
Cordillera Secretary-General Salvador Liked is asking the Commission on Audit to ascertain the quality of the projects.
The CCW, in its letter to regional director Joseph Anacay of the Cordillera offices of the COA, claimed that “with the implementation of the numerous multi-million projects, wherein some have allegedly expired contract time and expiring contract time,” the agency needs to look into the performance of Jomarcann General Construction to validate the declared accomplishments.
“Auditors must see if there are no factual negative slippages of the projects, if the projects have negative slippages, is the contractor qualified to bid or awarded more projects in the region, check on the additional P100 million worth of projects awarded to the contractor despite such slippages and whether or not the award of more projects to a lone contractor is in violation of the procurement laws, rules and regulations,” Liked urged the COA-CAR.
Among the projects of Jomarcann General Construction include rehabilitation along Halsema highway with a project cost of P210.3 million; construction of science laboratory at the Irisan National High School worth P17.1 million; network development or road widening, P19.4 million; improvement along Jose Mencio farm to market road, P183.9 million; construction of 4-storey science laboratory at the Baguio City National High School, P39.2 million; construction of 4-storey science laboratory at the Sto. Tomas National High School, P37.9 million; road upgrading along Amburayan-Boneng provincial road, P43.8 million; rehabilitation of Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan-Bakun road, P40 million; and construction of road leading to the Mountain Province Polytechnic College property in Mt. Province, P18 million.
Liked claimed, a single contractor is being favored to implement various infrastructure projects in the different parts of CAR, “as if he is the only qualified contractor to bid all the said projects and implement (them) at the same time.”
Joselito Tan, owner of Jomarcann General Construction, however suspects some individuals are only making false claims on his firm’s public works projects.  He vowed all his projects are open for scrutiny to prove his accusers are wrong. “Marami lang nai-inggit sa atin,” he said.
Tan also claimed that his construction firm is currently only undertaking three projects, one which has stopped because of non-payment, and four are under joint ventures.  “There are only two ongoing projects which are under Jomarcann,” he argued.
CCW-Cordillera however insists it is impossible for a single contractor to be implementing all the awarded projects at the same time when the said projects are situated in different places that are not adjacent with each other, “thus, the workmanship of the projects will surely be compromised thereby depriving the public with their money’s worth.”
Liked also claimed before the COA that some of the projects have negative slippages which should warrant the disqualification of Jomarcann from participating in the bidding of other infrastructure projects. “But it seems that Jomarcann is a favored contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as he continues to be awarded major infrastructure projects to implement even if he has not yet completed previously awarded projects.” ACE ALEGRE / ABN