Anti-red tape to hasten infrastructure projects

CEBU, Philippines — The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has implied its strategy may speed up Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD)’s infrastructure projects.

“We call on all agencies and LGUs involved, move faster as directed by the president. Giving procedural or logistical delay as reasons will no longer cut it; we have to find a way,” ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica said.

In a statement, Belgica said the agency is adhering to Administrative Order No. 32 on “Expediting the Review and Approval Process of Infrastructure Flagship Projects on Water Security” that was signed last August 26.

The FREEMAN had earlier published a recommendation of the MCWD Technical Working Group for the approval of a P5.4 billion Lahug Bulk Water Project.

The Production and Distribution Department of MCWD has endorsed JE Hydro and Bio Energy Corp. last July 13, 2020 to the water company’s Board of Directors (BOD).

Last February 2020, Mayor Edgar Labella has appointed new BOD members with former city councilor Joey Daluz heading the board.

Last April 6, the MCWD has published on its website an invitation to bid for the Lahug project at an approved contract budget of P65.80 per cubic meter.

Despite the TWG recommendation for a bidder, the board, however, failed to act with dispatch.

Daluz said the board had questioned the price because the price of Manila Water is lower. The MCWD board hired a consultant to check on the figures.

Manila Water did not join the bidding. The bid amount of the winning bidder is P65.08 or lower than the approved contract budget.

Based on bidding procedures, the consultant should have reviewed the invitation to bid before publication, not after the TWG recommendation.

Belgica said ARTA will closely coordinate with acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua and Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs Vivencio Dizon to identify the water-resource infrastructure projects with pending applications.

“The movement and completion of infrastructure projects for water security projects is a high priority for the administration and is precisely the reason for this Administrative Order,” Belgica said. — GAN (FREEMAN)