National Printing Office questions legal opinion on bidding for printing contracts

MANILA, Philippines - The National Printing Office (NPO) is questioning a legal opinion of former deputy executive secretary for legal affairs Manuel Gaite stopping the agency from conducting sub-contract public biddings on multi-million peso contracts for printing official accountable forms of national government agencies and local government units.

Dionisia Valbuena, erstwhile NPO officer-in-charge, said they have already appealed Gaite’s legal opinion in a position paper sent to the Office of the President.

In his legal opinion, Gaite said the NPO does not have exclusive jurisdiction over the printing of official accountable forms of national government agencies and LGUs by virtue of Executive Order 378 issued by President Arroyo on Oct. 25, 2004.

Gaite said EO 378 was issued to ensure that government “benefits from the best services available from the market at the best price.”

“Clearly, the NPO no longer has exclusive jurisdiction over the printing service requirement of the government over standard and accountable forms,” read the legal opinion.

“In fact, it has to compete with the private sector, except in the printing of election paraphernalia which could be shared with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.”

Currently, many government agencies go to the NPO to have their official accountable forms such as official receipts printed.

However, due to its lack of modern printing facilities, the NPO merely farms out these contracts by holding public biddings wherein they select the private printers that will undertake the printing of these government forms.

The NPO charges government agencies a 15 percent service fee for the printing of the forms.

The NPO reportedly has around 33 accredited private printers that could bid for the subcontracted printing jobs.

Official accountable forms are those which the printing office and government agencies have to strictly keep track of and account for, like official receipts and registration documents like those issued by the Land Transportation Office for motor vehicle registration and driver’s licenses.