BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 8) — Monday’s city council session ended in controversy as legislators here settled to defer decision on eight infrastructure projects after discovering that only one contractor joined the bidding.

Upon examining the list of proposed projects, councilor noticed that eight consecutive contracts in the list is registered to a single contractor and raised the possibility of delay in the completion of projects. However, when the city budget officer was asked, it turned out only one contractor was present in the bidding.

Pokle’s Construction, represented by Mr. Abelardo M. Poclis acquired all eight contracts ranging from continuation of drainage canal to road improvement, which in total amounted to P664,295 in the public bidding. Five of which were dated, Nov. 14, 2007.

The proposed projects include: a flood control project at Purok 6, Bakakeng; drainage canal continuation at Purok 4, Loakan; stairways construction at Road 1 West Bayan Park; rip rap construction at Purok 3, Mines View, and Balenben; road continuation and improvement in Irisan; and a drainage canal improvement at Idogan Village, still in Irisan.

City Budget Officer Leticia O. Clemente said she was also surprised that only one contractor was willing to bid that Poklis was automatically awarded the projects.

Clemente also explained that all contracts was thoroughly assessed and calculated. Because the total amount of the said projects was still within the 10% Net Financial Capacity (NFC) and passed technicalities, she considered the award legal.

Vice-mayor Danilo Fariñas ordered Hon. Antonio Tabora, committee head of public works to create a committee to look into a possible scheme by the contractor in bidding for projects.

“We should not encourage monopoly,” Fariñas said. # Danica Sophia E. Oliveros for NORDIS