DPWH exec confirms rigging in bidding of gov't projects

TAGBILARAN CITY ,Philippines  — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), known to be purportedly one of the national government agencies involved in corruption cases, has uncovered how the public biddings are being rigged.

Engr. Huillio Belleza, director of DPWH-4 (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan or MIMAROPA), said the agency has found out that public bidding of government projects appeared to be manipulated through the scheme and collusion of the bidders. This is aside from external and internal pressures, "most often" from the politicians.

While he did not name names and gave no specific government projects that are being fixed by players in the bidding, he added "it's not easy to fight the system" but said it could be minimized if it cannot be eradicated.

Belleza, who was one of the speakers during the Workshop on the Government Procurement Reform Act and Road Monitoring held at Metro Center here last week, said rigged bidding has resulted to a lot of things detrimental to the country's economy and the general public. He gave a lecture on General provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Law.

He cited one of the results of rigged bidding is the defective program detailed engineering (PDE) that defeats the purpose of the public bidding and high prices of materials and incompetent contractors and then poor performance. Sub-standard projects, high maintenance costs, waste of public funds and public inconvenience are among the outcomes of a rigged public bidding, he added.

The seminar, themed "Partnership For Better Infrastructure," spearheaded by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Research, Education and Institutional Development (REID) Foundation and the Asia Foundation, put emphasis on transparency and accountability, said BCCI president Mayette Gasatan.

It also tackled the Bid and Awards observers' roles and responsibilities tools and tips and lecture on road monitoring by Ms. Vivien Suerte-Cortes and Engr. Eduardo Quintos XI, both of the REID Foundation.

Belleza said that if only the participants are honest and sincere enough in following the law and its implementing rules, corruption and over-pricing of government projects could be avoided. Still, he called on the stakeholders to be vigilant during public bidding.

He said the government is always committed to good governance and adheres to the principles of transparency, accountability, equity, efficiency and economy through competitive public bidding of government projects.

The law, if properly enforced, simplifies the pre-qualification and strengthening the post-qualification through the use of the lowest calculated and responsive bid for goods, supplies, materials and related services, he added. /WAB