SC to buy 8 new vehicles for justices

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) is set to purchase eight new vehicles worth over P15 million for use of its justices.

In an invitation to bid for the procurement published in The STAR yesterday, the high court said it would allot P15,131,400 from the judiciary development fund for four vans and four sedans for the use of eight magistrates.

The SC did not identify the eight justices.

It has been a practice in the high court to distribute official vehicles to justices based on seniority of appointment. Junior justices, on the other hand, “inherit” old vehicles used by retired magistrates.

The SC said interested suppliers should attend the pre-bid conference at 2 p.m. on July 16 at the Office of the Court Administrator Conference Room 2.

“Bids must be delivered to the SC Bids and Awards Committee for Goods and Services on or before July 30, 2013 at 12 noon. Late bids will not be accepted,” read the announcement signed by Deputy Court Administrator Thelma Bahia.

“The SC-BAC-GS reserves the right to reject any and all bids at any time prior to the award of the contract, waive any minor formal requirements in the bid documents, and accept such bids it may consider to be advantageous and beneficial to the Court.”

Under the rules, the high court can “declare a failure of bidding, not award the contract and make no assurance that a contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.”