The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday lifted the suspension of bidding for all locally-funded projects.
But it warned that the lifting will only proceed upon strict compliance by procurement bodies to a newly issued set of interim guidelines.
Following a 10-day suspension, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon issued a memorandum dated September 16, 2025, ordering the resumption of procurement for locally funded projects, with a clear warning that it would only continue under strict adherence to interim directives.
The move comes after a previous directive dated September 6, 2025, which temporarily suspended procurement activities to allow for a department-wide review of internal procedures amid rising concerns over project quality, oversight, and transparency.
To avoid further delays in the implementation of key infrastructure projects, Secretary Dizon laid out several procurement safeguards, along with a strong reminder to comply with all applicable laws, policies, and regulations.
The guidelines include the mandatory livestreaming of all bidding activities; geotagging of project sites at various stages of implementation; accurate encoding of project data into the DPWH’s official Project and Contract Management Application (PCMA); strict enforcement of rules against contract splitting and financial capacity requirements; and full disclosure of beneficial ownership and bidder relationships to prevent conflicts of interest.
The memo emphasized that non-compliance with any of the outlined conditions will result in the deferment or cancellation of the procurement process and may lead to administrative and/or criminal liability for the officials and personnel involved.
“Non-compliance shall be deemed sufficient cause for the deferment, or cancellation of the bidding process and shall subject the responsible officials and personnel to appropriate administrative and/or criminal actions, in accordance with existing laws, rules, and regulations,” the memo stated.
The directive was sent to all DPWH implementing offices and Bids and Awards Committees (BACs) nationwide.
