Contractors want GMA's aid in DepEd bidding anomalies

CEBU, Philippines - At least ten contractors from the Visayas and Mindanao agreed to unite and bring directly to President Gloria Arroyo the alleged irregularities committed by top officials of the Department of Education in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol.

They accused the members of the Bids and Awards Committee of the DepEd, both in Cebu and Bohol provinces, of favoring some contractors.

Bing Gala of Ramagal Sash Manufacturing Corp. told The FREEMAN that a number of contractors who were victims of the abuses of some DepEd officials are coming out into the open and willing to support their campaign.

Gala said they also received a communication from contractors based in Manila who are willing to join them.

The group also called the attention of Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz saying they want him to address the problem.

Gala and different company representatives filed a complaint before the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman against top officials of the DepEd BAC headed by chairwoman Judiana Corriente.

The contractors who lodged their complaint are engaged in the supply and delivery of furniture to various DepEd school divisions.

 The contractors said they were victims of the extensive powers wielded by some of the BAC committees that awarded projects to favored suppliers or favored bids to the detriment of the true and real lowest responsive bids.

“Much more than that, it had severely affected our businesses, our livelihood, our ability to sustain operations and even more gravely, the livelihood of our workers and employees,” the contractors stressed.

They further said that because projects are awarded to favored contractors or favored bids, they can no longer compete at a level playing field, losing the opportunity to win contracts and even losing contracts which would have been already won.

“What is then the use of joining bids when we cannot win in any way despite having presented the best responsive bid and qualified samples?” they asked.

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel filed a resolution requesting the House Committees on Basic Education and Good Government to initiate a congressional inquiry of the alleged irregularities at the Department of Education. – Jose P. Sollano/BRP (THE FREEMAN)