Cebu City Government Shuns China-Made Heavy Equipment

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered city officials to stop buying or accepting heavy equipment or vehicles that are made in China.

Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) Chief Ester Concha, who heads the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for goods and services, said she has written all 21 department heads of City Hall about the new policy.

“It was intimated to us that based on our prior experience, China-made heavy equipment easily break, need high cost of maintenance and the deterioration is faster, resulting to damage to the government,” she said in a one-page letter dated March 18.

Concha said the new policy took effect immediately, on orders of Mayor Rama.

Rama said he doesn’t want new equipment that breaks down in a couple of months.

”That’s unacceptable. I want dependable and durable products that will serve much in the level of efficacy and effectiveness in public service,” he said.

Concha said most of the vehicles and heavy equipment the city has were made in China.

China-made heavy equipment and vehicles are more than 10 to 20 percent cheaper than other brands, she said.

Concha said the BAC will include a provision in the terms of reference, the next time it conducts a bidding for vehicles and heavy equipment, that products made in China will no longer be accepted.

But Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) Chief Jose Marie Poblete, whose office has been purchasing heavy equipment and service vehicles in recent years, said he would like a clarification.

Poblete said he wanted to clarify whether heavy equipment of some US or European brand like Volvo which are manufactured in China are covered by the order. (PNA) LAP/EB/EBP