Cebu PB Refuses To Give Nod To PHP250-M Equipment Buy

The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) did not give Governor Hilario Davide III the authority to sign a contract with the winning bidder of the controversial PHP250-million equipment deal.

Cebu PB Member Grecilda Sanchez, chairperson of the ad hoc committee reviewing the bidding documents, said the PB decided to return all the bidding documents and gave the executive department the discretion on whether or not to award the contract to the highest bidder, Conequip Philippines Inc. which was declared as the winning bidder.

The other bidders are Civic Merchandising Inc., which submitted a bid of PHP237 million and RDAK, which offered the lowest price at PHP235 million.

But the BAC post-disqualified RDAK and Civic for failing to comply with the specification requirements.

The PB’s ad hoc committee earlier found some discrepancies in the bidding procedures undertaken by the bids and awards committee (BAC).

The committee pointed out, among others, the error in the computation of the engine power for a roller model offered by Civic Merchandising, Inc., one of the bidders.

The BAC disqualified Civic for failure to comply with the specifications because the company offered 74 horsepower (hp) instead of the minimum 100 hp.

But the ad hoc committee found out that Civic’s offer at 99 kilowatts engine power was actually equivalent to 132.7 hp, more than the minimum 100 hp required by BAC. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS