Councilors probe fire equipment pricing

Saturday, February 4, 2012

THE City Council sought an “intelligent study” of the pricing for equipment and other requests of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Safety city office.

The body approved a resolution for said purpose after concerns on the alleged overpricing of fire safety gadgets were raised during the budget deliberations.

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“During the deliberation on the proposed 2012 Budget of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Safety-City Office, Honorable Joel A. Alangsab asked for the basis of the proposed reduction of the amount of P5,000,000 to P2,695,000 under Account Code No. 231 (Capital Outlay),” the resolution recounts.

“Honorable Perlita L. Chan-Rondez stated that they conducted an exhaustive questioning pertinent to or zeroing in on the alleged overpricing of the firefighting equipment, and because of the revelation that there are certain suppliers who can actually supply the trousers, the coats, the helmets and the boots at a considerably lower price, they should not continue with the practice of adhering to the agency estimate for the trousers and coats; and it was stated further that in view of this, there was an earlier manifestation that they look for other suppliers.”

The inquiry was broached by Councilor Betty Lourdes and supported by the other councilors.

Earlier, the body approved the budget allocation for the fire department albeit reduced by P600,000 from the original proposal of P33,769,000.

The alleged overpricing of fire safety gadgets was raised by Councilor Peter Fianza during the budget deliberations of the City Council.

Fianza said the proposed costs for the purchase of several firefighting equipment and accessories as contained in the proposed budget of the BFPS-CO appeared to be overestimated.

He specified the proposed purchase by the said office of 58 fire coats with trousers amounting to P 2,900,000; fire boots costing P 570,000; 57 fire helmets, P 1,140,000; ten leather gloves, P40,000; four spine boards, P80,000, among other items.

He said that based on his own research of the costs: “it would appear that the BFPS-CO ostensibly chose those with the highest or costliest price.” (Aileen Refuerzo)