February 2000—The World Bank approves the $150-million National Roads Improvement and Management Program-1, which is to be implemented from February 2000-March 2007.

2003—Signs of procurement problems are identified in the NRIMP-1 by the World Bank.

Between 2003 and 2006—The World Bank rejects two large contracts in three rounds of bidding after it discovers “strong signs of collusion and excessive pricing” among several construction firms. It reports this observation to the Integrity Vice President (INT) that conducts an investigation on the issue.

November 2007—The World Bank’s Integrity Vice President (INT) closes its investigation and a referral report, which contains summary of the INT’s findings, is issued. Findings of the investigation show “evidence of a major cartel involving local and international companies bidding on the NRIMP-1 contracts.”

November 16, 2007—The Department of Finance, according to Secretary Margarito Teves, receives the copy of the referral report of the World Bank.

November 19, 2007—The Department of Finance sends the World Bank report to the Office of the Ombudsman.

May 2008—Notice of sanctions proceedings are received by the companies involved in the World Bank probe.

May 13, 2008—The second phase of the NRIMP is approved by the WB Board of Directors. The new project contains a more comprehensive set of anti-corruption measures.

August 2008—The World Bank blacklists Dongsung Construction Co. Ltd. for four years for “fraudulent and corrupt practices” in relation to NRIMP-1.

January 14, 2009—The World Bank blacklists seven firms—including three Filipino contracting firms—for engaging in collusive practices under the bank-financed road projects in the Philippines. The three Filipino firms that are blacklisted are as follow: EC De Luna Construction Corp., CM Pancho Construction, and Cavite Ideal Construction

January 21, 2009—The House committee on public works and highways starts hearing on the WB road scam.

January 27, 2009—Senate hearing on the alleged bid rigging of road projects starts. Senator Panfilo Lacson says First Gentleman Mike Arroyo met with Eduardo de Luna, owner of one of the blacklisted contracting firms EC De Luna Construction Corp., in several occasions in 2002.

January 28, 2009—The House committee on public works and highways clears the blacklisted firms of collusive practices. The committee says the World Bank is unable to substantiate its claims. Meanwhile, CM Pancho Construction, one of the blacklisted firms, denies link to the road project anomaly in a newspaper advertisement.

February 2, 2009—The World Bank says due process was observed in blacklisting of the firms.

February 3, 2009—abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak reports that witnesses interviewed by the World Bank in its investigation linked First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to bid rigging. The report says that a Japanese contractor met Arroyo and a former senator and discussed about bribes. Ruy Rondain, the lawyer of Mike Arroyo, says in television interview that the First Gentleman has never met and discussed bribery with a Japanese contractor.

February 4, 2009-- Senator Miriam Santiago, chair of the economic affairs committee says that her copy of the WB report did not contain details that implicate the First Gentleman. She says the news item about a Japanese contractor who linked Mike Arroyo to the collusion of blacklisted firms was a “hearsay” and “has no probative value.”

February 5, 2009—Eduardo de Luna of the blacklisted firm E.C. de Luna Construction Corp. denies the finding of the WB report. Senator Santiago asks the World Bank to furnish the Senate a complete copy of its report on the investigation of the alleged bid rigging on government road projects.

February 6, 2009-- Santiago, chair of the economic affairs committee, says the Senate has invited Mike Arroyo, former congressmen Prospero Pichay and Jerome Paras, former public works secretary Florante Soriquez, public works assistant director for Region 4 Tito Miranda, project director Lope Adriano and Boy Belleza to the investigation.

February 9, 2009—Santiago says the committee will allow online documents as evidence in the Senate investigation on the scandal.

February 10, 2009—First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, in an interview with GMA News, denies involvement in the World Bank road mess.

February 12, 2009— Finance secretary Margarito Teves and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez say they cannot use the documents they got from the World Bank because of strict confidentiality rules. The Senate decides to summon World Bank country director Bert Hofman to the next hearing to present documents issued by the multilateral pertaining to the alleged bid rigging in the road projects.  Citing health reasons, FG Mike Arroyo is not able to come to the hearing. (abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak)

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