Writing in today’s Hoy, news analyst Fabio R. Herrera-Minino comments on the positive sides of the government decision to raffle off public works to local contractors. He says that the common practice of the government allocating contracts mostly on the basis of political ties had put engineers in general in a bleak situation given that the government is the most dynamic builder in the country.
“For almost a decade, fewer than ten companies controlled the bulk of the large and medium sized constructions. They were concentrated in the hands of the politicians’ favorite contractors, thus ensuring juicy commissions [for the politicians] and leaving out the professional class united under the Codia, [the local engineers and architects association],” he writes.
He says that the Medina administration’s decision to raffle the construction of 10,000 school classrooms among engineers and architects is very appropriate and politically convenient. He comments on the enthusiastic response of the architects and engineers to the call for participants. Only a little bit of luck was needed to be among the favored.
He mentions that raffling off the works is not without risk given that since anyone can participate, even those without experience, equipment or resources, the winners may find themselves contacted by the larger companies who seek to buy the contract from them or to associate so that the young contractor can learn from the experience.
He suggested imposing some pre-conditions for the next raffles and that new graduates should only be allowed to participate in works with budgets of no more than RD$2 million. Professionals with 6-10 years of working experience after graduation can participate in bids for works of up to RD$10 million. But for the larger works, special bids should be organized without falling into the previous handpicking of the contractors with the excuse of an emergency of a natural disaster.