Cebu City Council Urges Stricter Contractor Screening for Public Projects

The Cebu City Council has approved a resolution urging the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to implement more stringent screening procedures for contractors engaged in city-funded infrastructure projects. Authored by Councilor Sisinio Andales, the resolution emphasizes the need for comprehensive background checks and performance evaluations to guarantee the integrity, quality, and timely delivery of public works.

Councilor Andales highlighted the critical role of the BAC in enforcing the mandates of Republic Act 9184, also known as the Government Procurement Reform Act, which promotes transparency, competitiveness, and accountability in government procurement processes.

The resolution references recent nationwide concerns regarding contractor performance, including incidents of substandard workmanship, incomplete or fraudulent "ghost" projects, and failure to meet contractual obligations, all of which have eroded public trust in government expenditure.

To address these issues, the Council calls for a more rigorous and transparent vetting process that includes verifying technical and financial documentation as well as reviewing past project performance records of prospective contractors.

According to Andales, adopting these enhanced screening measures will improve the standard of city infrastructure projects and bolster public confidence in the procurement system.

The approved resolution will be forwarded to the Office of the Mayor, the City Administrator, and the BAC-Infrastructure for their review and action.