BAC member who wanted to step down named new chief instead

CEBU, Philippines -  Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes did not accept the resignation of City Legal Officer Alfredo Sipalay as member of the Bids and Awards Committee.

The mayor also denied the resignation request of the three members of BAC secretariat.

Instead, De los Reyes yesterday issued Executive Order No. 2014-0025 appointing Sipalay to head the BAC replacing De los Reyes' son, City Administrator John Yre De los Reyes.

John Yre will now be a member of the committee.

The mayor also turned down the resignation of Roy Alcoseba, Rogelio Nahine and Asaria Cañal, who tendered their separate resignation letters addressed to Mayor De los Reyes and John Yre last November 3, saying that there resignation was not valid.

Earlier, the three secretariat members resigned reportedly in relation to a 2012 Commission on Audit report involving the release of P5.8 million in various transactions that involved falsified documents.

In his EO, the mayor appointed the members of the BAC including city budget officer Edgar Mabunay as vice chairman and its members are city information officer Vince Monterde, city assistant budget officer Nora Narca, city assistant General Services Officer Salve Vega and city licensing officer Mary Jane Enriel.

The creation of the BAC in every government agency and local government unit is mandated under Republic Act 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement and Reform Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Under the law, the BAC shall be composed of one representative each from the regular offices under the Office of the Local Chief Executive such as but not limited to the following: Office of the City Administrator, Budget Office, Legal Office, Engineering Office and General Services Office.

The same law also provides that the Local Chief Executive shall designate the members of the BAC.

De los Reyes, in his EO, directed the members of the BAC to continue to exercise their function as duly constituted BAC members.

The BAC is responsible for the determination of eligibility, conduct of bidding, evaluation of bids, post qualification of the lowest calculated bid and recommending award of contracts.

City administrator John Yre, in a separate interview with The FREEMAN, confirmed that Sipalay will head the BAC although Sipalay himself has yet to verify the new development.

"I personally request the mayor that I will no longer sit as chairman of the BAC and instead I will only sit as one of the members," John Yre said.

John Yre denied that his refusal to head the BAC has something to do with the case he is facing before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly signing a security services contract without public bidding.  (FREEMAN)