Quiapo underpass stalls covered by public bidding

Stalls at the Lacson Underpass in Quiapo must be subjected to regular public bidding, Manila’s legal officer said yesterday.

Lawyer Renato dela Cruz rejected the opinion of Commission on Audit Director IV Salvador Isiderio that the stalls could be leased without any public bidding.

“It is at once obvious that the opinion is based on the perception that the spaces on the underpass are market stalls, which is wrong,” Dela Cruz said. “They are not market stalls within the coverage of the Market Code where spaces are awarded through raffle.”

Dela Cruz said the stalls at the Lacson Underpass are city patrimonial properties as distinguished from market stalls, which are being managed by the city market administrator.

“It is immaterial that the lessees have been operating their stalls for decades since such does not detract from the character of the transaction and nature of property,” Dela Cruz said.

The procurement law is clear that lease of patrimonial properties of the government must undergo bidding, Dela Cruz said.     – Sandy Araneta