MANILA, Philippines — The contractor behind the recently rehabilitated southbound stretch of EDSA will have to fix its fresh potholes at its own expense, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday, warning that taxpayers will not pay twice for the same roadwork.
“The government will not bear the cost of these corrections. I am holding the project contractor fully accountable for the defects and required them to shoulder the entire expenses of the repair work,” Dizon said.
He did not identify the contractor responsible for the rehabilitation work.
The statement came after fresh potholes appeared on the southbound portion of EDSA, raising questions over the quality and durability of the recently completed road rehabilitation.
Dizon said the incident underscored the DPWH’s policy of making contractors accountable for defects in newly completed government infrastructure.
“Taxpayers should not be made to pay twice for the same work,” he stressed.
The Manila Times tried to reach DPWH-National Capital Region Director Joel Limpengco by phone and text for details on the contractor responsible, but he had not responded as of posting time.
DPWH’s transparency portal lists several ongoing and recently awarded projects involving the rehabilitation, reconstruction and upgrading of EDSA.
Among them is the ₱28.72-million Asset Preservation Program for the improvement of EDSA, awarded to King Eight Builders and Supply.
Another major project is the ₱180.83-million improvement of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, awarded to J.H. Pajara Construction Corp.
J.H. Pajara Construction Corp. was also awarded the ₱19.10-million EDSA-Ortigas Interchange bridge retrofitting and strengthening project, while JVA Legions Construction Corp. won the ₱2.82-million project for pavement markings along EDSA and the Shaw Underpass.
