Management practices on delayed road projects of Department of Public Works and Highways in Bataan [manuscript] : inputs on matrix design engineering / Jeallen M. Tuazon.

Include bibliographical references.

This study aimed to determine the management practices of contractors and project engineers on delayed road projects of Department of Public Works and Highways in Bataan. The study involved all winning contractors and project engineers of the DPWH-2nd District Engineering Office in the province of Bataan. They were selected using the following criteria: PCAB accredited contractors with approved construction projects in the DPWH-2nd DEO and project engineers. The following are excluded from the study such as those contractors and project engineers who are working in the DPWH-1st DEO and the Provincial Engineering Office. A purposive sampling technique was utilized in this study wherein a representative sample of the population is selected based on an expert's subjective judgment or some pre-specified. In this case, the population is all winning contractors and project engineers of the DPWH-2nd District Engineering Office in the province of Bataan and the sample is purposive because they are chosen after they met the inclusion criteria. The data gathered using the questionnaires were coded, tabulated, and treated using various descriptive statistics like mean, frequency counts, and percentage as well as inferential statistics such as Pearson moment of correlation. The data generated was statistically analyzed with the aid of the statistical software called SPSS. The levels of significance for all statistical tests were set at 0.05 level. SPSS provides the exact significance level of each statistical test for comparison with 0.05 level by the researcher. The classification of contractors and project engineers was described using frequency and percentage distribution. Likewise, the management practices of contractors as well as the reason of delay in the road construction projects were depicted using frequency and percentage as well as weighted mean. The effect of the management practices of contractors to the reason of the delay in Pearson Moment of Correlation. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that there is no significant relationship between management practices and reasons for the delay in road construction projects. Based on conclusion drawn, it is highly recommended to increase the number of road inspectors. The government should recruit more inspectors at DPWH Bataan 2nd DEO to ensure for money and timely completion of the road construction projects. There were few inspectors with the technical competence to effectively, monitor, manage the risk, and at the same time carry out the evaluation since these few at the district were already on full caseload. Given the insufficient funds at the district, the added cost of hiring new inspectors on the road construction projects will not be equated to the amount of loss incurred as a result of totally failing to effectively supervise the road construction projects. Likewise, both project engineers and contractors must intensify their monitoring intensity practices specifically in maintaining a record book in order to follow the complaints of the road users. On the other hand, the DPWH must limit the requirements for the payment of work accomplishment of contractor to fast track the processing of the latter's collection in order to avoid frustrations on the side of the contractors which finally lead to poor performance as the real cost tend to be high in the long run. Likewise, the local government units must reduce political influence in the road construction projects since it reduces the command of the process. Evaluation must be carried by the DPWH Bataan 2nd DEO to ensure value for money. Both internal and external evaluation should be carried out to establish whether the projects achieved the intended goals and objectives. However, evaluation requires technical internal and external experts to influence and decision making in relation to the goals and objectives, it requires a lot of funds to facilitate the exercise which could currently be lacking at the district. There is therefore a need to include the evaluation costs on the budget while planning for the road construction projects. Project engineers and contractors should have a contingency plan on the occurrence of general problems such as unusual weather, natural disaster, force majeure and the like in order to minimize if not prevent the delay in construction of road projects. Presence of skilled workers must be ensured by the project engineers and contractors by means of proper monitoring, risk management and evaluation practices in order to build quality road projects. Ensuring availability of construction materials through proper inventory must be implemented in order to prevent any delay in the road construction projects. Adequate number of machinery should be safe guarded by means of proper planning and monitoring activities. Both local government units and end-users must strictly adhere to the agreed original construction design in order to avoid any modifications in the actual implementation which may further delay the road construction project. Contractors shall observe the original work schedule as approved by the DPWH to meet the target accomplishment of the project implementation. Lastly, this study may be replicated for the purpose to confirm or refuting the results or finding of the study with the aim of adding new ideas, concepts and understanding regarding the research problem.