Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday pressed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to explain why contractors with a history of substandard work are still securing government projects.
Leading the March 14, 2025 Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee’s motu proprio hearing on the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, Cayetano asked DPWH officials about their process for holding errant contractors accountable, particularly on whether any firms have been blacklisted in recent years.
“During the term of Secretary (Manuel) Bonoan until now, how many contractors have you blacklisted in DPWH?” he asked.
Cayetano pointed out that while the agency has the authority to penalize contractors who repeatedly failed to deliver quality infrastructure, many of these firms are still allowed to bid for and implement government projects.
He recalled past instances where contractors with questionable track records continued to operate, citing one particular firm that was flagged for delays and even alleged document forgery.
“The DPWH promised me that they will look into it and discipline this contractor. So, the decision was to terminate the program. Not only did Director Loreta Malaluan allow them to continue, she even wrote a letter allowing them to continue,” he said.
The senator warned that unless DPWH enforces stricter penalties and blacklisting measures, similar infrastructure failures will continue to put public safety at risk.
“We should not be deceived when it comes to infrastructure,” he said.
Cayetano also raised concerns about the integrity of project quality assurance, asking if DPWH’s in-house testing laboratories could be fully trusted given ongoing issues in infrastructure projects.
“Hindi masama na mayroong sariling laboratory ang DPWH, pero sa nangyayari ngayon at sa reputasyon na maraming dayaan sa mga kontrata, it might be smarter na independent y’ung laboratories,” he said.
Cayetano lamented that the bridge collapse exposed deeper issues in infrastructure governance, stressing that it had now become a “symbol of our failure as a government.”
“The intention of this bridge is really to transform the countryside, right? It’s [supposed to be] a very good project. But now, let me just say, so far, it’s a symbol of our failure as a government,” he said.
He stressed that the bridge collapse was not an isolated incident but a symptom of a larger problem in how infrastructure projects are awarded and monitored.
“This is not just about one bridge. This is about how DPWH holds contractors accountable,” he said.
