Bids and Awards Committee Deployment

The Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference (BBC) and Makati Business Club (MBC) recruit and train volunteers from senior management of private companies for assignment as observers in Bids and Awards Committees of selected government agencies.

BBC and MBC signed a Commitment of Support and Cooperation Agreement with the Philippine National Police on December 20, 2004 and the Department of National Defense on February 1, 2005 to place observers on their respective Bids and Awards Committees.

CAC Monitors Defense Procurement

15 June 2007 - A total of P6.4 billion worth of Department of National Defense (DND) projects for 2007 are being monitored by the Coalition Against Corruption (CAC) with the Bishops- Businessmen’s Conference (BBC). The DND is fast-tracking major procurement projects under the AFP capability upgrade plan to modernize the armed forces. Investing heavily to upgrade troop capabilities, the military’s shopping list includes global positioning systems, night fighting systems, automatic weapons, and radios.

With billions of pesos worth of purchases programmed this year, CAC and BBC are closely monitoring the procurement process to check whether the DND follows the Government Procurement Reform Law (RA 9184) through the Government Procurement Monitoring Project.
In a letter to the Department on 3 May 2007, the CAC made several recommendations based on volunteers’ observations on how the DND conducts its biddings. A point was raised on why DND frequently chooses negotiated procurement or direct contracting over competitive bidding, which promotes transparency and encourages more suppliers to bid. Observers also noticed that few bidders participate in DND procurement considering items for bid vary from equipment, vessels, helicopters, to oil supply, and gunpowder.

Two business executives, Dr. Magdaleno Albarracin and Atty. Paterno Menzon, accepted their appointment as co-chairmen of the Government Procurement Monitoring Project of the Coalition on 10 April 2007. They will lead the current roster of 36 volunteers who are assigned to 23 Bids and Awards Committees in 19 government agencies. Other agencies being monitored by CAC-BBC include Philippine Ports Authority, Manila International Airport, Philippine National Police, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Tourism.

Coalition Against Corruption to train BAC observers

19 September 2006--The Coalition Against Corruption will hold a 2-day training for volunteer observers on the Government Procurement Reform Law (RA 9184) under its project managed by Bishops-Businessmen's Conference. Trained observers will be assigned to the Department of National Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Public Reclamation Authority, Philippine National Police and other government agencies.

Procurement Watch Inc. which will handle technical training on provisions of the procurement law, the different types of procurement, and tools for assessing whether procurement processes are above board and consistent with the law.  Participants will be trained in the context of responsible governance by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate.

The training will be held on 20-21 September 2006, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  For more information contact Coalition Against Corruption at tel no. 751-1143.

Observers monitor P3.49 B-worth of procurements

21 December 2005--In 2005, the CAC deployed observers in the Bids and Awards Committees of the Departments of Public Works and Highways-Region IV-A (DPWH), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Health (DOH), Public Estates Authority (PEA), and National Police Commission (Napolcom), among other agencies. 

Being monitored are some P3.49 billion worth of DND projects; P1 million worth of ammunition in the PNP; P237.09 million worth of road projects in DPWH; and P3.78 million worth of audio-video materials and IT equipment in the DOT.   

During the monitoring, the project team noticed that not all BACs are consistent in providing necessary documents to observers as required by RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act). Other observers, meanwhile, have recommended that technical working groups (TWGs) in BACs must exercise due diligence in reviewing specifications of items being procured to prevent delay and BACs should invite many bidders to encourage competition.

Procurement Watch Inc. Training in Manila for New Observers

26 September 2005— Procurement Watch Inc. is holding a two-day training session on the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 in Manila. PWI has been conducting Orientation and Training Sessions on GPRA2003 for potential volunteer observers and trainers for the Bids and Awards Committees of various government agencies. GPRA 9184 was enacted in response to the need to reduce graft and corruption in government transactions. Grant assistance for the Training is provided by the ASEM2 Trust Fund of the World Bank through the DBM.

Civil Society Organizations, Professional Associations and other partners of Procurement Watch Inc. are invited to send representatives. The training session will be held on 10-11 October 2005 at the Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, One ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. For more information, contact PWI at 687-4251 or 633-9601.

For updates on 2005 Resolutions issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board visit http://www.procurementservice.org/gppb/issuances.htm. The GPPB is tasked to address concerns regarding procurement activities of government agencies and ensure their compliance with GPRA 9184.


Procurement Watch Inc. Training for New Volunteer Observers

15 August 2005—Procurement Watch Inc. will be conducting Orientation and Training Sessions on the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003 for potential volunteer observers and trainers for the Bids and Awards Committees of various government agencies. GPRA 2003 was enacted in response to the need to reduce graft and corruption in government transactions. Grant assistance for the Training is provided by the ASEM2 Trust Fund of the World Bank through the DBM.

Civil Society Organizations, Professional Associations and other partners of Procurement Watch Inc. are invited to send representatives. The two-day training session will be held on 22-23 August 2005 at El Cielito Inn, North Drive Baguio City.



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