Capitol assures transparent biding for hospital projects

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  – The Negros Occidental government has assured bidders that the bid process for the construction of two new district hospitals and expansion of a third one will be conducted in transparent and fair process.

Provincial administrator Enrique Pinongan said this week the Capitol would announce through the media the schedule of bidding, as well as the requirements and other procedures so that interested parties can participate.

The Provincial Board has approved last week a supplemental budget amounting to P512.2 million, the P219 million of which will be spent for the district hospitals, said PB Member Salvador Escalante, chairman of the finance committee.

Under the supplemental budget, the construction of Sipalay City hospital is allotted P100 million, construction of the New Sagay City Hospital—P50 million, and renovation of the Cadiz District Hospital – P69.2 million.

Pinongan said the Provincial Capitol will facilitate the bidding process but as of this time, there is no definite date for the bidding yet. He however belied reported allegations about favoritism for some bidders.

In February this year, Antonio Wong, vice president of the Suppliers and Constructors Association of Negros Inc. (SCAN) had complained of alleged rigged biddings in the expansion work of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City.

Wong said the Provincial Bids and Awards Committee should be held liable for the way it conducted the bidding for that project.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. had ordered for a rebidding of the project. He wrote SCAN informing that, after finding a serious flaw in the bidding process, he had ordered BAC to re-bid the project to erase any doubt on the credibility of the bidding procedure. – (FREEMAN)