DURING the annual Christmas party for children with cancer tendered by Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko Foundation (KKMKF) Cebu at the Chateau de Busay last Sunday, the “former political has-been,” who was with his wife, City Councilor Margot Osmeña, chairperson of KKMKF, was given the chance to talk. He delved on his urinary bladder cancer experience and how he fought it and how he was eventually “cured” from the Illness.
Upon hearing his story, somebody from the audience silently commented: “Maong naayo siya kay didto man siya nagpa-opera sa iyang cancer sa America. Maka-afford man siya. Kining mga bata diri mga pobre ni nga wala gani ikapalit og tambal ug nagsalig lang sa tabang sa KKMKF.”
Then he talked about his plan to recover the lots at the South Road Properties (SRP) that was sold by “has-been” mayor Michael Rama to three big real estate developers, SM Prime Holdings, Filinvest and Ayala Land Inc. Again, somebody from the audience silently commented: “Nakasabot ba kaha ning mga bata kun unsa nang SRP? Basin ang pagsabot nila anang SRP, suggested retail price na.”
Most of the cancer survivors, who were escorted by their parents, were from Cebu Province and other parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. Unya nag-Ininglis pa gyud siya. Samot nang wala makasabot ang mga bata.
That was a “misplaced” speech. But one can conclude that he is so “obsessed” with the SRP that he talks about it even if his audience does not understand it.
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As expected, the joint venture of ConEquip and Rdak Transport Merchandizing was declared winner by the Provincial Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) to supply some P252 million-worth of light and heavy equipment for Capitol's infrastructure projects. Well, what else is new? It's no longer surprising.
It was the second bidding after the first one wherein ConEquip won was declared a failure by Gov. Junjun Davide III. Was it an honest to goodness bidding? I don't know. Only the members of the PBAC and representative of the winning bidder can answer that. Another company participated in the bidding but was disqualified. Others showed interest but did not participate, claiming PBAC members hastily “changed the rules” to favor one bidder.
First, the PBAC set the specifications of the equipment to be supplied, that it should comply with G7 standards. G7 is a group of rich and highly industrialized countries and China is not a member of it. But later, the BAC deleted that requirement. Meaning, the winning bidder can now supply China-made products. That sudden “changing of the rule” was designed to accommodate ConEquip, which will definitely supply China-made products.
Second, the PBAC required the bidders to have an office and a service center in Cebu. A Manila-based bidder complained about that requirement saying it is not necessary to have an office and service center here when they are just phone calls away if something happened to their equipment. Once these suffer mechanical defect, their technicians will go to the site where the equipment is located. Maayo man og awto kay dad-on sa service center.
Again, this particular requirement favors ConEquip, which is Cebu-based.
During its regular session the other day, the Provincial Board (PB) was supposed to pass a resolution authorizing the governor to enter into a contract with the winning bidder. But it was deferred pending the passage of another resolution that seeks extension to the loan application by the Capitol with Land Bank of the Philippines.
But is it true that the PB momentarily set aside the resolution giving authority to the governor to sign a contract with the winning bidder because some PB members wanted to be sure about the qualification of Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino as chairman of the BAC? Some supposedly said he is not qualified because he is not a permanent “third ranking official” of the procuring entity, as his position is “co-terminus” with the governor.
Section 11 of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act states; “Each procuring entity shall establish a single BAC for its procurement. The BAC shall have at least five members but not more than seven members. It shall be chaired by at least a third ranking permanent official of the procuring entity other than its head and its composition shall be specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
(bobby@sunstar.com.ph)