OFFICIAL STATEMENT

The Office of the Ombudsman has officially resolved to dismiss the cases filed previously against DPWH-R6 Officials.

However, this dismissal is without prejudice, meaning the cases can be refiled if additional evidence is discovered and properly submitted.

The availability of new facts or evidence that could support this new case, encouraged the undersigned to refile it with the relevant supporting documents.

ON CONTRACTOR SLIPPAGES AND PCMA DATA:

The slippages indicated in the Project Contract Management Application (PCMA) cannot be dismissed as merely administrative delays or system update issues.

The PCMA is a transparency and accountability tool meant to flag implementation issues, not excuse them. When the data clearly shows unaccomplished projects beyond their end dates, and the same contractors continue to receive awards, it reflects a systemic failure in enforcement and compliance with R.A. 9184 and Department Order No. 193, s. 2016.

We now ask: Who is accountable?

1. All Engineering Offices and BACs that awarded new contracts to underperforming contractors despite existing slippages must explain the basis of their decisions.

2. Contractors who failed to deliver on time are liable for possible breach of contract and must face consequences, including blacklisting or liquidated damages.

3. Monitoring engineers and project evaluators who failed to report truthfully or allowed slippages to persist without escalation must be investigated.

4. Regional and central authorities who ignored PCMA red flags or variation orders without due action also share institutional liability.

We urge the DPWH to take this seriously. The public deserves transparency, and the law demands accountability. If no immediate corrective action is taken, we will be compelled to escalate and institute addition complaints to the Office of the Ombudsman and the GPPB for appropriate sanctions.

This is not just about project delays. It is about restoring trust in public procurement and governance

CARLO M. BATALLA, Ph.D
𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗇/𝖯𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍