DPWH backs Cebu City’s move to penalize erring contractors

Local

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) believes that Cebu City can finally hold national contractors accountable.

The agency has affirmed the city’s proposed “Undertaking of Commitment,” a measure requiring contractors to pledge accountability for project delays, damages, and safety compliance, which can feasibly be implemented as part of their contractual obligations with the city.

In a letter to the City Council, District Engineer Manolo Madronio Jr. of the DPWH–Cebu City District Engineering Office said the proposal may be integrated into the Technical Infrastructure Committee (TIC) permit process, ensuring that contractors are bound by stricter accountability terms.

“This commitment may be integrated into the process of acquiring the TIC Permit, thereby ensuring that contractors are held accountable for damages, delays, compliance with project timetables, and adherence to safety protocols,” Madronio said.

He added that the measure would improve coordination between the city and the DPWH, enhance compliance with safety standards, and ultimately protect the welfare of Cebu City residents.

“We believe that this approach will strengthen coordination between the City Government and contractors, improve compliance with safety and operational standards, and ultimately safeguard the welfare of Cebu City residents,” he added.

Madronio’s letter was in response to Resolution No. 17-0725-2025, approved by the Cebu City Council on September 16, which seeks to institutionalize the “Undertaking of Commitment” among DPWH contractors, particularly those handling flood control and infrastructure projects within the city.

The move follows Mayor Nestor Archival’s repeated calls to make DPWH contractors answerable for delayed or substandard projects.

Archival earlier admitted that only one contractor, KIMWA Construction and Development Corporation, the firm behind the road project near Marco Polo, has so far signed the voluntary commitment.

“But all the others, mura’g makuyawan pa sila mo-promise nga i-deliver nila nga di sila ka deliver,” Archival said, referring to contractors’ hesitation to sign the undertaking.

The mayor said the city will require the document for all future projects, especially those involving excavation permits.

“So sa mga bag-ong projects, di naman jud sila ka sugot kung wala tong undertaking, so sila na’y mohatag og deadline,” Archival said.

Cebu City has been grappling with recurring floods, worsened by incomplete or delayed DPWH works. The council noted that 21 flood control projects have been programmed in the city for 2025, several of which have experienced setbacks or abandonment.

Under the proposed accountability measure, contractors must also deploy traffic enforcers, install warning devices, post project information on-site, assign cleanup personnel, and comply with safety standards throughout project implementation.

The council invoked the city’s authority under Section 16 of the Local Government Code of 1991, mandating local governments to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

The DPWH’s formal support is seen as a breakthrough for the Archival administration, which has long complained of the city’s limited control over DPWH contractors since they report directly to the national office.

The agency also committed to collaborating with the City Council, Office of the Mayor, Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), and other offices in drafting the required legal framework for implementation.

“We remain committed to working closely with the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Office of the Mayor, and the Department of Engineering and Public Works to facilitate the drafting and implementation of the necessary legal instruments,” Madronio said.(TGP)