Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Giovanni ‘Banoy’ Lopez on Tuesday said projects included in the national budget must comply with five mandatory documentary requirements before they can receive funding and proceed with implementation.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Lopez stressed that the agency would not allow projects without the necessary documents to be funded or implemented, even if they had already been included in the budget through congressional insertions.
“Simple lang, kung walang papeles, walang budget. At yan kung nailusot yan, sabihin natin may budget at wala pa ring papeles, walang implementasyon,” Lopez said.
He said the five requirements, introduced under the reforms initiated by former DPWH Secretary and returning Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, are mandatory and non-negotiable.
These include an approved program of work; geo-tagging with actual photographs and, for road projects, station limits and coordinates; and Budget Preparation Form 202 (BP202), a Department of Budget and Management requirement detailing the project and its actual cost.
The fourth requirement is a certificate of implementability, which ensures that projects are ready for implementation and free from potential delays caused by right-of-way issues, project duplication and other concerns.
The fifth is a master plan or feasibility study, along with a certificate of no objection from the local government unit (LGU), to establish coordination with local officials and ensure that communities are aware of the proposed national government projects.
Lopez emphasized that failure to comply with even one of the five requirements would prevent a project from proceeding.
Asked whether the reported P190 billion worth of budget insertions would be rendered ineffective if the projects failed to meet the requirements, Lopez agreed.
“Tama po. Ganun ang magiging patakaran,” he said.
Lopez also warned DPWH personnel against allegedly helping prepare or complete mandatory project documents for projects that lack the necessary requirements.
Addressing agency employees, he reminded them to uphold their professional responsibilities and avoid manipulating project documents.
“Sa mga kasamahan natin sa DPWH, ang gusto ko lang sabihin inhinyero kayo, hindi kayo doktor. Huwag niyo na doktorin ‘yong mga papeles,” Lopez said.
“Huwag na tayong magkasubukan pa na mahuli tayo,” he added.
Watch the full exclusive interview below:
