(Eagle News) –Officials behind public works projects that remained unfinished for years will be the next target of President Rodrigo Duterte who vowed to initiate a review of these delayed projects.
He said these negligent officials will have to go.
“So I will review with the Cabinet this one. All public works projects, which have been delayed for years, you get out immediately and I can maybe look for the money,” President Duterte said in a speech in Pasay City during the inauguration of the new Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems.
Duterte noted that highways that are affected with unfinished projects cause accidents and clog traffic. Many are delayed because of “sheer negligence.”
“This insanity must stop,” he said.
The President said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III can look for the money to finish these projects, as he issued a warning to public officials who are involved with long-delayed unfinished projects.
“We’re doing good in the field of taxation. I’m sure Tugade and Dominguez can look for the money. Umalis kayo diyan, ‘yung lahat ng butas, ‘yung may manhole diyan,” the President said.
-Duterte: No more gov’t contracts to be awarded to lowest bidder-
Duterte also stressed what he had earlier said that he would do away with the practice of awarding government contracts to the lowest bidder. He said this had been proven to be a source of corruption.
“Because everyday that a certain contract is bidded out, it’s always tainted with corruption, 90 percent,” he said, noting that it is hard to find a transaction that’s “almost clean.”
To address this, the President said he would propose to do the turnkey phases.
“We will come up with the specifications, the projected cost and everything — just like the Swiss challenge,” Duterte explained.
“We will present it to you. I’ll give you 10 percent for mobilization. But you must be a company with a track record. You must have the equipment. And I will not allow subcontracts, which means to say that those who — a few people that have also improved their lives maybe have reached the middle-income state because of that,” he said.
-Lazy local officials to be suspended/dismissed –
During his speech, the President also issued a warning against local officials who are sitting on their job.
“I’m warning the local government officials. I do not want to threaten you but you just do your duty also because remember, I can always suspend or dismiss you if I want to,” he said.
“I’ve been sparing. I’m not the Ombudsman. But administratively I can hang you. So do it, those governors and mayors who are deadwoods or who do nothing at hinayaan mo na lang kami ditong mga pulis pati the Armed Forces to take care of everything and you are not doing anything to serve your constituents, including dying for your people, umalis kayo diyan,” the President said.
