Exposé on anomaly improves DepEd's bidding process

CEBU, Philippines - The FREEMAN expose on the alleged irregularity on the purchase of school furniture by the Department of Education-Cebu triggered changes in the composition of the members of Bids and Awards Committee and adoption of the previous requirements that is considered fair for the contractors.

Bing Gala of Ramagal Sash Manufacturing Corporation said that last month they noticed that the BAC composition has changed while DepEd-Cebu province conducted bidding by lots and not the whole amount.

In previous years, he explained that provincial office of DepEd conducted bidding by lot, or by every district for the purchase of school furniture. But this has changed later when it selected only one supplier triggering complaints on alleged irregularities after the DepEd officials were accused of favoring one contractor.

They also followed the requirements in advertising the conduct of the bidding to inform the interest bidders.

“Dako na gayud kaayo og kalainan karon gumikan kay daghan naman nga contractor ang makakuha sa proyekto ug dili kay usa ra unya dako kaayo og amount,” said Gala.

He admitted that they made several complaints on the procedures adopted by BAC-Cebu province, but the latter ignored them until they were accused of being involved in irregularities.

Gala said after The FREEMAN expose on the alleged anomalies, the DepEd officials have adopted the previous method which is only fair to the contractors.

But he added that while they were satisfied with the new measures adopted by DepEd-7, they want the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman to continue with the investigation on the irregularities.

Top officials of the DepEd-7, Cebu province and members of the BAC-Cebu province are now facing complaints before of the Visayas Ombudsman because of their alleged involvement in the anomaly. They were accused of favoring a contractor and for the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the bidding process for the purchase of more than P14 million worth of school furniture for Cebu province.

The DepEd-Cebu province, through calendar year 2008 appropriation, intends to use the sum of P14,536,220 being the Approved Budget for Contract to payments under the contract for supply and delivery of school furniture. The amount was divided into three lots.

Of the amount, P3,594,020 is for the first lot, which is composed of Cebu’s second and sixth districts; P5,584,280 will be for the second lot, which is composed of the first and third districts and P5,357,920 will be for the third lot, covering the fourth and fifth districts.

Some Cebu-based contractors have expressed support to the move of DepEd to implement the project by lot, instead of the previous that the bidding was for the whole amount where, they said, only one contractor could win the project. — Jose P. Sollano/WAB (THE FREEMAN)