Blame game

When cornered, fight back.

That's what the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) seems to be doing amid the barrage of criticism coming its way as a result of frequent breakdowns in the Metro Rail Transit and other problems in the transport sector.

Don’t blame us, blame sore losers, according to the DOTC, alluding to the delays in government flagship projects like airports and seaports.

It appears that contractors of the DOTC invariably resort to filing MRs (motion for reconsideration) as their next course of action after losing a bid for a contract. Just like in elections where nobody loses, they’ve all been cheated.

Some members of the Lower House had complained about the inordinate delays in the awarding of flagship projects by the DOTC. One of them said

the DOTC’s project deployment record was abysmal compared to the Department of Public Works and Highways and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) which manage to award their projects ahead of schedule.

Under the Government Procurement Act, state agencies are mandated to implement projects within 144 days from the date of the bid announcement.

DOTC projects, such as the Bicol International Airport and the rehabilitation of the Legazpi Airport and key shipping ports, have been extremely delayed.

The Bicol airport project, for instance, was begun in 2009, with 2016 as the targeted completion date. But six years later, the airport isn’t even halfway done.

That's not all. At least four DOTC projects in the Bicol region have been delayed for one reason or another: Pili port development (138 days delayed),  Dimasalang port (175 days), Prieto Diaz port (70 days) and Legazpi airport development (92 days).

Could this be because powerful political forces are manipulating the situation, as one lawmaker wondered? 

Maybe. Maybe not.

Be that as it may, the DOTC always has one trick up its sleeve.

When pushed to the wall, blame everyone but yourself.

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Image by www.wiseman.co.uk