MANILA — New Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon wasted no time in sending a stern warning to contractors involved in ghost and substandard projects, saying their licenses could soon be permanently revoked and their firms banned for life.
“Ako nga ho, tama ang nasabi ng isang kasamahan niyo sa media. Hindi nga dapat perpetual disqualification, dapat lisensiya wala,” Dizon said in a televised interview on GMA 7’s Unang Balita on Tuesday.
“Sabi ko nga, nasanay na naman po tayong mag-revoke ng lisensiya ng driver. Siguro, dito naman mag-revoke ng lisensiya ng kontratista,” he added.
Dizon said contractors proven guilty of ghost or substandard projects will be subject to automatic lifetime blacklisting without further hearings.
“Itong mga ghost project at substandard projects, kinlear ko na rin po sa ating Pangulo na itong mga contractor ng mga ghost projects na ito, unang-una mag-i-impose po ako ng lifetime blocklisting ban immediately,” he said.
“Kapag ang isang project ng isang contractor ay ghost, napatunayang substandard, wala na itong prose-proseso, wala nang imbestigasyon, automatic po blacklisted for life ang contractor na ‘yan at siyempre may kaakibat pong kaso ‘yan,” he added.
At the same time, Dizon announced the abolition of the DPWH’s internal investigation committee, arguing it has no credibility to probe its own agency.
“’Yun pong tinayo ng DPWH na internal investigation committee o kung ano man ‘yun ay bubuwagin ko po ‘yun,” he said. “Hindi po ako naniniwala na puwedeng imbestigahan ng isang ahensiya ang kaniyang sarili. Hindi po pupuwede ‘yun.”
Instead, the DPWH will gather evidence for submission to an independent commission that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to create through an executive order.
“Ang gagawin lang po natin pagpasok natin is we will gather the information at ipapasa po natin ito sa independent commission dahil sila lang po ang sa tingin ko may karapatan na mag-imbestiga,” Dizon explained.
Dizon formally assumed leadership of the DPWH on Monday, succeeding Manuel Bonoan, who resigned over alleged irregularities in multibillion-peso flood control projects./PN
