Kalinga contractors hit huge, rampant SOPs of gov’t execs

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – So-called huge “standard operating procedures” or SOP eat much funds for infrastructure projects like roads often resulting to uncompleted substandard contract projects, contractors said.

SOPs are monetary bribes reportedly given to government officials by project implementors who have a hand in approval or implementation of such projects.  

Members of provincial and municipal project monitoring committees, project implementors and 23 local contractors of provincially-funded projects recently met here to address issues affecting quality implementation of projects in the province and to comply with audit observation memos issued by the Commission on Audit.

It was during the forum that contactors bared practice of rampant SOP demanded or implied by government officials.

Gov. JocelBaac told complaining contractors to report them to his office so those engaged in anomalies or corrupt practices will be made accountable if proven guilty.

Baac urged stakeholders to abide by rules and procedures and the Government Procurement Reform Act for projects  to proceed and be completed according to programs of work.

About 213 projects were implemented in 2014 funded from the 20 percent development fund of the province and 402 projects this 2015. Project funding ranged from P50,000.00 to millions of pesos per project.

Among the projects were:  concreting of Allaguia-Asibanglan road- P20 million; opening of Kinama FMR – P10M; concreting of Bulanao-Laya-Balong road – P7M; construction of Ableg-Molayong - P5.5M; rehab of Amdalao-Guinaang-Galdang road – P5.5M; concreting of Dilag FMR – P5M; improvement of BAExt. road – P4M; improvement of BAExt. Building – P2M; upgrading of Agbannawag hospital – P2M; construction of provincial economic enterprise center at Capitol – P32M; construction of Pongod SWIP at Lacnog – P8M; improvement of Dalnacan-Taloctoc-Anggacan road – P20M; gravelling of Bawak-Darulog road – P4.5M; rehab of Butbut-Songang FMR – P10M; rehab of Belong-Manubal FMR – P4.4M.

For 2015,  projects with big appropriations include improvement of the Bulanao-Amlao farm-to-market road under the Philippine Rural Development Plan with  P17 million provincial counterpart; Bulanao 4-lane road-P15M; Dilag road improvement Phase III – P5M; construction of Magaogao bridge (Phase II) - P10.38M; construction of Tanudan Municipal Hospital – P5M; procurement of ICU and NICU equipment for the provincial hospital – P4M; Tobog Bridge in Malin-awa – P7.5M. -- PIA