Stricter screening of bidders pushed

The Cebu City Council has called for more detailed and diligent screening of bidders for infrastructure projects, amid growing national concerns over the reliability of contractors handling government projects.

The move stemmed from a resolution filed by Councilor Sisinio Andales during the council’s recent regular session. The measure, which was approved, directs the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) on Infrastructure of the Cebu City Government to exercise “circumspection and diligence” in evaluating bidders to safeguard public funds, ensure project quality, and promote public trust.

The resolution was later amended to include a provision mandating the live-streaming of infrastructure project biddings.

According to Councilor Mikel Rama, chair of the Committee on Laws, the Cebu City Government is now in a position to implement this, as live-streaming of the bidding process is already mandated under national law. He noted that the Cebu Provincial Government has already adopted the practice.

This measure had been approved by a previous council but was vetoed during the administration of then-mayor Michael Rama due to concerns over the Data Privacy Act. Mikel explained that the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the new Procurement Law, released only last February, now provide clearer guidelines on transparency, including live-streaming.

Under the law, video recording and live-streaming of bidding are mandatory for projects that meet certain thresholds: ?10 million for procurement of goods, ?20 million for infrastructure, and ?5 million for consultancy services.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa also pushed for a corollary motion requiring the BAC on Infrastructure to submit a quarterly report on projects, including contractor names and project status. Meanwhile, Councilor Francis Esparis requested the current list of contractors engaged with the city. Both motions were approved.

Andales, in his resolution, stressed that the integrity, quality, and timely completion of projects are “highly dependent on the competence, financial capacity, and track record of the contractors awarded with such projects.”

He emphasized that the BAC plays a crucial role in ensuring that only qualified and capable bidders are considered, as required by Republic Act No. 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The resolution also cited national issues on contractors’ performance, including reports of substandard work, ghost projects, and violations of contractual obligations.

“There is a pressing need to strengthen the vetting process and adopt a more rigorous, transparent, and accountable approach in evaluating bidders, including thorough background checks, validation of technical and financial documents, and assessment of past project performance,” the resolution read. (CEBU NEWS)