Daluz mulls banning Arante from City Hall projects

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Joey Daluz is studying the suggestion to ban E. M. Arante Construction not just from barangay projects but also from undertakings by the City Government.

This develops as he supports the resolution of the Association of Barangay Councils Board (ABC) banning the contractor until it is cleared of any irregularities.

All 80 barangays of Cebu City are now discouraged from hiring the firm.

Mayor Michael Rama said he will order the contractor to correct all substandard works and for the cancellation of contracts awarded to the firm but not yet implemented.

Rama said it is better for the City to find another contractor for pending projects.

Ongoing projects by Arante will continue but the firm must ensure quality work.

Projects that have been completed but found defective by a team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will have to be removed and replaced by the contractor at no cost to the City Government.

To make sure that the contractor will correct the errors, the City withheld all payments due to E.M. Arante. Should it run away from its responsibilities, the City will file a criminal case against the company.

Daluz said that all contractors, and not just Arante, whose works are found to be substandard will be asked to make corrections.

He said that E.M. Arante is not only the contractor with substandard works but also Jegma Construction and Development Corp to name one.

Daluz said that Jegma’s work is not as defective as that of Arante’s but still, some projects did not meet standards.

Daluz said that former mayor and now South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña wants the alleged irregularities to be thoroughly investigated so officials involved will be made to answer.

He said that he has only two recommendations for the new guidelines, which is to require the barangay captains and the contractor to inform the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) before the construction starts and to require the DEPW to inspect the project before payment is made. (THE FREEMAN)