Baguio gov’t stops bidding, awarding of gov’t contracts

By Jessa Mardy P. Samidan

BAGUIO CITY -- Bidding and awarding of government contracts were held in abeyance for a period of two weeks following the issuance of Executive Order No. 1, series of 2019, penned by Mayor Benjamin Magalong in an aim to ensure compliance to existing laws.

The order was issued July 1 upon the assumption of Magalong as chief executive who sought to ensure compliance to procurement laws in line with Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

Magalong’s order to hold in abeyance the bidding and award of contracts for two weeks is specifically directed to the city’s Bids and Awards Committee for Infrastructure as well as Goods and Services including Special Bids and Awards Committees, Secretariats and Technical Working Groups.

“For the government procurement committees to hold in abeyance for at least two weeks the award of bided out infrastructure and services projects, until these are favorably reviewed for contractual obligation. All other items programmed for bidding are hereby put on hold for immediate review,” Magalong said in delivering his marching orders upon assumption of office.

Also held in abeyance for two weeks are any stage from preparations of bidding documents, pre-procurement conference, invitation to bid, advertising of invitation to bid, receipt opening of bids, preliminary examination of bids and bid evaluation, post-qualification processes and the award of bid.

The EO seeks transparency in the procurement process and in the implementation of procurement contracts as well as ensure competitiveness by extending equal opportunity to enable private contracting parties who are eligible and qualified to participate in public bidding.

The Supreme Court’s Oani versus People in GR No. 139984 dated March 31, 2005 was quoted by the EO in upholding, “public bidding aims to protect public interest by giving the public the best possible advantages through open competition that is legitimate, fair and honest; and to avoid or preclude suspicion of favoritism and anomalies in the execution of public contracts.