JVR eyes fixed term for bids committee

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes will reconstitute the City's Bids and Awards Committee, the body created in line with government's efforts to uphold transparency and accountability and achieve equity, effectiveness, efficiency and economy in its operations.

City administrator John Yre De los Reyes yesterday confirmed the move of the mayor saying that the regular members of the BAC shall have a fixed term of one year reckoned from the date of appointment, renewable at the discretion of the mayor.

The mayor is expected to issue an executive order relative to the new composition of the BAC before the year ends.

However, the mayor directed the BAC, which is currently chaired by John Yre, the mayor's son, to continue to exercise their function as duly constituted BAC until new members are designated.

Early this year, two members of the BAC - city attorney Alfredo Sipalay and city engineer Audie Bacasmas - tendered their resignation citing no reasons why they resigned from the post.

The creation of the BAC by local government units is pursuant to Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The members of the BAC will have to select who their chairman, vice-chairman and the members.

BAC is composed of one representative each from the regular offices under the city mayor but not limited to the following: City Administrator, City Budget Office, City Legal Office, City Engineer's Office, and City General Services Office.

Separately, City Councilor Socrates Fernandez cried foul on the statement made by John Yre blaming him that the resignation of three members of Bids and Awards Committee secretariat  has something to do with the 2011-2012 COA audit report and has nothing to do with the city's move to hire Blackpearl Security Agency guards as job order employees.

"John Yre's statement is not objective and fair enough to the three persons who resigned from Talisay BAC secretariat membership," said Fernandez, who is a former mayor.

Roy Alcoseba, Rogelio Nahine and Asaria Cañal tendered their separate letters addressed to Mayor De los Reyes and John Yre, resigning effective last November 3.

In 2012, the COA stated that the administration of former mayor Socrates Fernandez allegedly violated the law by allowing the release of P5,866,930 in various transactions that involved falsified canvass documents.

COA auditors said some of the signatures on the canvass documents for the repair of city-owned vehicles and heavy equipment were forged and one of the private contractors had ceased operations in 2010 yet.

Fernandez, in his statement sent to The Freeman, said that the three persons did not resign for because of the COA findings in 2012.

According to Fernandez, the city administrator committed diversionary strategy and errancy when he linked him on COA 2012 audit report.

"As BAC secretariat members, their work is to prepare, keep the minutes and file supporting papers. They have no participation or vote for BAC decision. They have their own reasons of resigning, not that reason according to John Yre. He is not telling the truth," Fernandez added.

In Talisay City, BAC members are City Treasurer Emma Macuto, Budget Officer Edgar Mabunay, City Legal Officer Alfredo Sipalay and City Information Officer Vince Monterde. —  Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)