The News Today Online

BEHIND SCHEDULE

Suplico hits Japanese contractors over airport delay

By Florence F. Hibionada

'I want them changed.  I want them blacklisted.  Let someone else finish the job.'

A call for the immediate scrapping of the contract involving a Japanese contractor has been made by an Ilonggo solon following official confirmation of significant delay in the construction works of the multi-billion new Iloilo airport project.

With reported slippage of over 55% and a failed 'catch-up' attempt from the contractors, Fifth District Representative Rolex Suplico wants speedy resolution of the delay.  And this, he asserted, must be reached by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) alongside Iloilo provincial and municipal officials involved in the project.

The acceptable resolution, he added, no longer lies in the hands of the Japanese firm, Taisei-Shimizu Joint Venture, but on other capable contractors.  As it is, Suplico stressed in a The News Today interview, the Philippine Government has had enough of the inefficiency and unacceptable delays courtesy of the unacceptable reasons as cited by the contractor.

And while at it, the Fifth District solon said, he is pushing for a monthly progress report from the DOTC saying the Committee on Good Government must be apprised of the developments relative to the airport project.

Suplico’s position came after getting the documents that validated the major construction delay and work slippage where some P1.9 billion in government funds have been paid thus far. 

Said development came in time for next month’s last Committee hearing that will gather key figures from Taisei-Shimizu as resource persons. 

With the conclusion of the House probe comes the much-awaited results and recommendation estimated to take some two months thereafter as earlier disclosed by Representative Arthur Defensor (Third District, Iloilo).

Defensor led the series of Committee hearings aimed at ascertaining the facts surrounding the project construction with charges of corruption and anomalies reported.

Meantime, more problems arose relative to the project with Defensor calling for the stoppage in the operation of a rock-crushing plant in Maasin, Iloilo.  Clamors from the locals in the area reached Defensor where foremost of their concern was the damage done to the existing road network and the bridge.