MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing a major procurement reform modeled after the government’s “green lane” program in a bid to draw reputable construction firms back to public infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry general membership meeting on Feb. 16, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency is studying the adoption of a similar fast-track mechanism to address procurement bottlenecks and restore confidence following corruption controversies tied to flood-control contracts.
“There’s no reason why we can’t do that in the DPWH,” said Dizon.
The national green lane, implemented by the Board of Investments under Executive Order No. 18, streamlines and automates permit and license processing for strategic investments. It forms part of the broader effort to improve ease of doing business and encourage investment inflows.
Dizon said the goal of a DPWH green lane would be to shorten procurement timelines and speed up payment processing to encourage major construction companies, including Megawide Construction Corp. and EEI Corp., to participate in government projects.
“When legitimate contractors join the DWPH, I think this is another step forward in rebuilding trust in the government,” he said.
He added that procurement reforms would help weed out contractors with questionable records, some of whom have been linked to the multibillion-peso irregularities under investigation.
The overhaul will be complemented by reforms at the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to ensure that only credible firms are qualified to take part in public works.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Ferdinand Ferrer welcomed the proposal, saying it comes at a critical time following last year’s economic slowdown, which he attributed in part to delays in government spending and halted infrastructure projects.
Ferrer said the PCCI is prepared to work with the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to help the DPWH roll out its version of the green lane by the second quarter.
“It took us a year to establish a green lane in BOI. We cannot wait a year. So we want to set it up in three months,” he told reporters.
To further promote transparency, Ferrer said the PCCI would push for permanent private sector representation in regional development councils (RDCs) through an appeal to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).
Currently, business representatives may attend RDC meetings only upon invitation. Ferrer argued that allocating a permanent seat to the private sector would strengthen policy cohesion and accountability.
“If the government and the private sector decided on this together, that gives us greater confidence,” said Ferrer.
He is scheduled to meet DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on March 5 to discuss the proposal.
Meanwhile, the PCCI, together with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Mayors for Good Governance, is set to sign a memorandum of understanding with the DPWH on Feb. 23 for the Integrity Chain initiative.
The Integrity Chain program uses blockchain technology to enhance monitoring of government infrastructure projects, from procurement to project completion, in an effort to improve transparency and accountability.