May I please request an NPM or legal opinion by the GPPB relative to the "shovel-ready" requirement during the preparations of budget, PPMP and APP along with the following circumstances:
- Almost all of the budget requests are slashed during the NEP and up to the enactment of the GAA. Once the line item budget under the enacted GAA, the design of the infrastructure projects are subjected to re-design to suit/fit with the approved budget. This situation defeats the "shovel-ready" design and poses substantial impacts to the fuinctionalities-outputs/outcomes that the projects intend to achieve.
- Since the essential elements of the "shovel-ready" design are indicated in the PPMP and APP, the end-users and BAC are required to resort to "supplemental" process so as to suit with the approved budget under the GAA. This contributes substantially to the delay in the procurement proceses.
- Not all government agencies have adequate licensed professionals to prepare and sign/attest plans needed of the projects, especially the infrastructure projects.
In view thereof, will it be reasonable to accept skecth design/picture, but not the detailed engineering design, during the budget and PPMP preparations? Additionally, is it legally sound for the DPWH to propose a new design when the budget is not sufficient under the GAA compared to the project cost during the budget preparations?
I hope for your clarifications via NPM or legal opinion on these matters.