Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso on Thursday, September 4, warned flood control contractors with ₱247 million in unpaid taxes that they will be blacklisted from securing city permits should they fail to settle their obligations.
Citing a report from the Office of the City Treasurer, Domagoso said contractors behind 305 flood control projects have yet to pay contractors’ tax worth ₱247 million, leaving only nine projects compliant with payments totaling ₱8.09 million.
The delinquent projects, he said, span prior years, 2024 carry-overs, and 2025 allocations listed on the SumbongSaPangulo.ph website.
“What will be the action of the city? We will make sure, paalala at babala na rin sa ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, na itong mga hindi magco-comply na kumpanya will be blacklisted at the City Engineering Office and the Office of the City Building Official,” Domagoso told reporters in a press briefing.
The Mayor stressed that no permits would be granted to blacklisted contractors.
“If you’re going to hire said contractors, who are not following simple rules and obligations, hindi na sila makapaghahanapbuhay sa Maynila,” he said.
Domagoso added that the ban will aLSO serve as a warning to government offices and other private firms to check a contractor’s status with the city before entering into contracts.
The Mayor said Manila will also elevate its complaint to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Secretary Vince Dizon, who has already declared a policy of blacklisting erring companies nationwide.
According to city records, notices have been sent to the contractors: 86 were personally received, 12 were refused, 192 are being delivered via courier, 12 through PhilPost, while three were undelivered due to companies’ address changes.
Domagoso noted that refusal to receive notices would not absolve firms of their liability.
“I wish them good luck. Binibigyan na namin ng due process, hindi ka pa tumutugon,” the Mayor said.
He further warned that Manila is prepared to pursue civil claims for city property damaged by contractors, as well as criminal charges against those found with “bad intent” in evading payment.
“Obligasyon pa lang hinihingi namin, pero yung negosyo nila malilimitahan kapag sila ay nakipagmatigasan,” he said.
“Ang mahirap nito, yung ordinaryong pamilya, nagpapagawa ng bahay, sinisingil ng contractor’s tax, building permit, zoning permit. But these big companies, nasanay sila na walang gobyerno sa Maynila. Those days are over,” he said.
