By Joel E. Zurbano and Roy Pelovello

THE Department of Public Works and Highways will bid out today a contract for a P978-million road improvement project, making it clear that three companies blacklisted by the World Bank will not be allowed to participate.

The department said the bidding for the Marcos Highway Rehabilitation Project under the World Bank-assisted National Roads Improvement and Management Program will be held at the agency?s main office at the Port Area in Manila.

The World Bank earlier debarred E. C. de Luna Construction Corp. and its owner Eduardo C. de Luna; Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp.; CM Pancho Construction, Inc. and four Chinese firms?China Road and Bridge Corp; China State Construction Corp.; China Wu Yi Co. Ltd.; and China Geo-Engineering Corp.

The bank said the contractors engaged in collusive practices to corner the project contracts.

Following the World Bank action against the companies involved in a Philippine road project, the Public Works said ??it is temporarily suspending the involved companies from participating in any bidding for locally funded or foreign-assisted projects.??

Whether the firms will be permanently blacklisted or not will be known in 15 days, the department said.

Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said his department remains committed in the fight against corruption in government procurement and its efforts have already paved the way for the approval of new World Bank loan for road improvement.

The Marcos Highway project involves the upgrade of the pavement for the 4.- kilometer, 8-lane urban arterial highway from gravel road to concrete.

?The highway is one of the major road links of the new sub-projects to be financed by World Bank and implemented under NRIMP Phase 2,? said Public Works Undersecretary Romeo Momo, project?s overall in-charge.

The package includes other road and bridge rehabilitation projects in seven major provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and at least 43 projects to minimize landslide risk in 43 areas in Mindanao.

At the House of Representatives, militant lawmakers filed a resolution calling on the House public works panel to look into the rigging of bids for World Bank-assisted projects.

Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casi?o, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, and Gabriela Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Liza Maza introduced House Resolution 937 calling for the probe ?in pursuit of transparency and accountability.?