COA: No public bidding in purchases of 2 barangays

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has reminded barangay officials, particularly the bids and awards committee, to revisit and strictly adhere to the procurement law. COA made the reminder after it discovered close to P1 million worth of projects and supplies in Barangays Suba and San Roque that reportedly did not undergo public bidding.

The barangays procured the various supplies and materials via “shopping,” minus government-mandated procedures. The “shopping” method is an alternative mode of procurement that can only be used “when there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase.”

For its part, Barangay Suba purchased various supplies and materials for infrastructure projects amounting to P649,349.25. However, COA said the materials purchased do not qualify as ordinary and regular supplies.

The terms ordinary, regular or common-use supplies refer to those goods, materials and equipment that are repetitively used in the day-to-day operations of procuring entities in the performance of their functions.

The “shopping” method of procurement can only be used “when there is an unforeseen contingency requiring immediate purchase.”

San Roque, on the other hand, purchased basketball uniforms worth P140,400 and 10 brand new tires worth P53,500 for a garbage truck. The basketball uniforms were purchased by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) on April 28 for a summer tournament.

COA said that just like in Suba, the purchase in San Roque was done through the alternative method of shopping even if the items could not pass as ordinary or regular supplies.

In other words, the purchases made by the two barangays were not within the bounds of Section 52.b of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act to afford transparency in the procurement process.”

COA recommended that members of the bids and awards committee follow the rules and regulations on procurement of goods and services.

“All procurement should be through public bidding,” the report reads. –(FREEMAN)