EDITORIAL - Lucky suppliers

This has to be one lucky supplier. After bagging a deal worth nearly P700 million to supply 1.8 million ballot secrecy folders for use in the May elections, OTC Paper Supply also submitted the lowest bid of P28 million to supply portable ultraviolet lamps for use in authenticating ballots. Earlier this week, the same company emerged as the winner of yet another contract with the Commission on Elections, this time for the supply of 350,000 stamp pads worth P5.7 million.

There is nothing wrong with the same company winning supply contracts for various items in the same government agency. The company could have a reliable record, and as long as the bidding is aboveboard and the offer meets all requirements, there should be no problem with the award of the contracts. Someone has to supply the equipment needs of government agencies.

OTC’s problem arose following the award of the contract, worth P689.7 million, to supply the ballot secrecy folders made of polypropylene. Comelec commissioners decided that the folders were overpriced at P380 each and cancelled the deal, which had been awarded by the Comelec Bids and Awards Committee through negotiated contract. This was because OTC supposedly patented the design for the folders and no other company could offer such a product. The patent application was filed a week before OTC bagged the deal. An investigation of the bidding has been launched. If a supplier figures in a questionable deal, shouldn’t it be barred from further doing business with the government?

Another lucky company is Smartmatic International Corp., the foreign partner of Total Information Management in the P7.2-billion poll automation deal, which involves the supply of the precinct count optical scan machines for use on May 10. The Comelec has since awarded Smartmatic with other fat contracts: a P519-million deal for the procurement and transportation of ballot boxes nationwide, as well as the latest deal, this time for the tracking and delivery of ballots, for P499,180.327.87. Reports said there was no bidding for the latest deal because it was an emergency procurement.

Elections always provide business opportunities in this country. But transactions must be aboveboard and government procurement laws cannot be set aside. Compliance with those laws must start at the Comelec.