ICI asks DPWH to halve project contract amount thresholds

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to halve the threshold of contract amounts for infrastructure projects, setting proposed new ceilings at P200 million for regional engineering offices and P75 million for district engineering offices.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon is studying this recommendation as an anti-corruption safeguard, noting that the original thresholds were increased during the term of former Public Works chief Manuel Bonoan.

This proposal aims to reduce the scale of projects handled by district and regional offices to also lower the amount of funds they can control.

Dizon mentioned that a similar idea was pitched to him by former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, during whose term District Engineering Offices implemented projects worth up to P50 million and Regional Offices up to P150 million.

The ICI stated that the decrease in the levels of authority (LOA) is necessary due to their ongoing investigation into anomalous flood control projects and corruption within the DPWH.

In line with this, Dizon has asked the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to revoke the licenses of engineers and professionals linked to flood control anomalies.