A LEADING flood-control contractor was also awarded a Tacloban port upgrade contract in 2024, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.
Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corp. was issued a notice of award for the P263.64-million upgrade of the Port of Tacloban on Jan. 29, 2024, the PPA said.
Hi-Tone, founded by Christopher S. Co, was among the 15 contractors that were identified cornering more than P100 billion worth of flood control projects between July 2022 and May 2025.
Mr. Co was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in Albay in 2025. His brother is Rep. Elizaldy S. Co of the Ako Bicol party-list.
Rep. Co is himself the founder of Sunwest, Inc. another leading flood-control contractor. Rep. Co has said he has since divested from Sunwest.
Hi-Tone beat out four other bidders for the Tacloban project and passed the PPA’s post- qualification evaluation.
Asked to provide further comment, the PPA said the Tacloban Port project was 78% complete as of Aug. 25.
The contractor has completed the reinforced concrete pier component of the project, which is ready for turnover, the PPA said, Meanwhile, the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ramp remains under construction.
“The contractor has committed to complete the ramp within the next three months,” the PPA said.
“Amidst current challenges in flood control and infrastructure development nationwide, PPA underscores that only contractors who have passed the proper government bidding and procurement processes are awarded projects,” it said.
Nigel Paul C. Villarete, senior adviser on PPP (public-private partnership) at the technical advisory group Libra Konsult, Inc., said via Viber:
“It would certainly be advisable for closer and more serious consultations to take place, if only to further protect the integrity of the procurement process of the national government.”
Sunwest submitted bids for at least nine port projects in 2024 and 2025 including the P704.55-million Puerto Galera cruise terminal project, the P632-million Tagbilaran port expansion project, the P606.53-million expansion of the Port of Tapal in Bohol. It also bid for the Tacloban Port project awarded to Hi-Tone.
“It would be advisable to review the award, for prudence, after Hi-Tone’s association in the flood control scandal. But if Notice to Proceed has been issued, it may be too late,” Rene S. Santiago, former president of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines said via Viber.
Sunwest and Hi-Tone were among the top 1,000 largest companies in the Philippines, according to the 2024 edition of BusinessWorld Top 1000 Corporations in the Philippines.
Sunwest placed 286th in gross revenue in 2023, while Hi-Tone Construction ranked 642nd. — Ashley Erika O. Jose