By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The contractor of the P158.3-million drainage improvement project along Sumulong Highway in Marikina has been given until Oct. 15 to complete the long-delayed works, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said.
Dizon inspected the project Tuesday after its original Nov. 20, 2025 completion deadline had passed.
The project contractor, Anore Construction, attributed the delays to underground utility works encountered along the project area.
Dizon said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is reviewing the contract to determine whether liquidated damages should still be imposed despite the utility-related delays.
“We are reviewing the contract to determine if liquidated damages should still apply despite these utility-related hurdles,” Dizon told reporters.
Phase 4 of the drainage improvement project began on Feb. 24, 2025 and involves major civil works along a 1.3-kilometer stretch of Sumulong Highway.
Meanwhile, Dizon said the decision to prosecute DPWH officials linked to allegedly anomalous flood control projects in Taguig rests with the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Taguig projects involve the lakeshore area that the Philippine Reclamation Authority has flagged as illegal reclamation.
Dizon said the DPWH has already submitted documents concerning the Taguig lakeshore project to the Ombudsman for investigation.
“Let’s just wait for the investigation of the Ombudsman,” he said.
Dizon added that some DPWH officials and district engineers who were involved in the reclamation projects may have already retired.
ia/xf
