Alleged anomalous P17 million project: Dilaab Foundation backs complainant contractors

CEBU, Philippines - The Dilaab Foundation, Inc. will be giving its full support to the two contractors, who came into open and lodged complaints over the alleged irregularities in the bidding of the P17-million worth of armchairs, desks and tables for the Department of Education-Cebu Province.

Dilaab overall coordinating steward Fr. Carmelo Diola, in an email, congratulated The Freeman Newspaper after the story was published last Saturday, April 4.

“What Dilaab can do is not to do our own investigation, because we would need volunteers for this and this would not be our core competence, but to stand behind whistleblowers and anti corruption champions,” said Diola.

Diola also assured The Freeman that they have contacts who may be able to provide more information regarding the government procurement and laws.

In previous interview, Diola asked public officials to do their duty to both God and country by letting the truth prevail and saving the people from corruption that destroys society.

At Capitol, representatives from JEC Lumber Corporation and Ramagal Door and Sash Manufacturing met Provincial Board Member Juan Bolo, chairman of the committee on education.

Representatives of the two contractors briefed PB member Bolo on the circumstances why the project was not awarded to them despite that they had lower bids than the winning contractor.

JEC and Ramagal were disqualified by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for allegedly submitting defective papers, giving false information, and a record of poor performance in the delivery of items.

Due to these reasons, the BAC awarded the contract to Gala Industries.

This was not the first time that such happened based on research made by The Freeman.

In 2006, the lowest bidder for armchairs, desks and tables for teachers was reportedly a Dumaguete City-based contractor, Bato Industries Inc.

The project was not awarded to Bato Industries Inc., but to Gala Industries Inc.

It was learned that Bato Industries was disqualified because for its failure to submit the original receipt.

Both JEC Lumber Corporation and Ramagal participated the same bidding, but they were also disqualified because of their failure to submit original copy of their tax permits.

Gala Industries, Inc. has cornered projects worth P34 million in a span of two years.

Last March 23, Gala again participated the bidding of armchairs, desks and teachers tables worth P14 million.

BAC members already notified JEC Lumber Corporation and Ramagal that they were again disqualified.

The two contractors were disqualified on the ground that only JEC submitted the “similar single contract” requirement as provided by the procurement law.

BAC maintained their position that Ramagal Doors and Sash Manufacturing should also comply with the said requirement.

Both JEC Lumber Corporation and Ramagal reasoned out that there is no provision of the bidding documents nor in Procurement Law or its implementing rules and regulations which specifically require all partners/members of a joint venture bidding in a government project to individually submit or comply with the “single similar contract” requirement.

Some observers said the purpose of joint venture because one contractor cannot comply with the requirements.

“Kon maka comply pa ang usa dili nalang mag joint venture,” they claimed

However, it was not clear if Gala Industries Inc. was awarded the contract.

The office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has assured that it will conduct a fact-finding investigation into the alleged irregularities.-Jose P. Sollano/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)