NBI asked to look into DepEd bidding issue

CEBU, Philippines – The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission has asked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the bidding for P17 million worth of school furniture by the Bids and Awards Committee of the Department of Education-Cebu province.

After they conducted the evaluation, PAGC officer-in-charge Jaime Jacob said that they directed NBI chief Nestor Mantaring to look into the complaint against DepEd officials in Cebu because the matter is within its authority to address.

Jacob also directed Mantaring to submit his office the action taken and also The FREEMAN who first exposed the alleged irregularities committed by the officials of the Department of Education in Cebu Province.

The House of Representatives may also look into the alleged irregularities.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel filed a resolution directing the House Committee on Good Government, Basic Education, and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation.

The FREEMAN reported last April on the alleged irregularities of the bidding following complaints raised by parents and teachers that the delivered school furniture were substandard and did not comply with the specifications.

Sources said that it is part of the 2007 school furniture project of DepEd-Cebu province.

It was also learned that the project was awarded to Gala Industries, Inc. which was the third lowest bidder.

The company was reportedly awarded the supply contract after the two lowest bidders —JEC Lumber and Ramagal Sash— were disqualified for allegedly submitting defective papers, false information and poor performance in previous projects.

The two contractors strongly denied these statements made by Bids and Award Committee members.

The FREEMAN sources at the Department of Education-Cebu province also disclosed that P9 million was already released for the said transaction.

However, it was not clear if the release was made with the authority of DepEd officials. Baraquel quoted Republic Act No. 9184, an Act Providing for the Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government and for other purpose.

Under Republic Act No. 9184, the resolution said it is mandated that the procuring entity shall ensure that the most advantageous price for the government is obtained.

She said that in the case of the DepEd-Central Visasyas, Cebu province conducted three biddings for the supply and delivery of school furniture for curriculum years 2006, 2007, and 2008.

However, the winning company with the lowest calculated responsive bid was disqualified allegedly due to non-compliance with some requirements which are not specified in the bidding requirements set by Republic Act No. 9184 and the BAC.

The resolution pointed out that the winning company was declared ineligible for the calendar year 2006 bidding because documents were allegedly not duly authenticated while there was a certificate submitted to the Bids and Awards Committee attesting to the authenticity of all documents required for eligibility.

For the calendar year 2007 biddings, which now involves the P17 million worth of desks, armchairs and teacher’s tables, the winning company was subsequently disqualified due to an error in one of the entries which was not necessary to be eligible for bidding.

“There is a need to inquire on the compliance of Gala Industries, Inc. to the contract if entered into with the Department of Education-Cebu in terms of the quality of the pieces of furniture procured by the government using public funds,” the resolution of Baraquel read. — Jose P. Sollano/BRP (THE FREEMAN)