Mayor Benjamin Magalong on June 16 ordered the resumption of routine inspections of government-funded projects being implemented in the city.
It may be recalled that the city allowed on May 1 the resumption of construction works suspended during the enhanced community quarantine on March 17, particularly those considered as critical subject to strict health and safety guidelines amid the threat of the Covid-19.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña said more than 100 government and private projects had been issued permits since May 1.
“Inspections will have to resume for us to check on the progress of these constructions to ensure that they are compliant with the project specifications,” the mayor said.
The mayor and the city administrator who head the Bids and Awards Committee for infrastructure began inspecting projects in November last year to ensure the quality of these works before these are paid.
Ultimately, the procedure aims to ensure that no contractors will violate their programs of work and deliver substandard projects.
Inspections are done before the city makes the second and final payment for the project and those that passed will be issued a clearance to collect the final payment while those found deficient are given chance to correct the infractions or they will not be paid.
In allowing the projects to continue after ECQ, the city government issued guidelines for construction sites to follow for the protection of their workers from the Covid-19 like the wearing of facemasks or personal protective equipment, observance of physical distancing, personal hygiene, and disinfection measures, among others.
Dela Peña said monitoring on observance of the required protocols had been strict and all construction sites had been complying.
He said periodic checking is being done by the city government through the City Health Services Office, the departments of Health and Labor and Employment regional offices. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
