Avoid leaking info on CCMC bidding

To avoid “prejudging,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the Bids and Awards Committee for Cebu City Medical Center and the hospital’s ad hoc committee to avoid information leakage to the public until the project is awarded to the lowest bidder.

The order, Rama clarified, does not serve as a “gag order” but in view with promoting compliance with Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).

Under RA 6713, “public officials and employees shall not use or divulge, confidential or classified information officially known to them by reason of their office and not made available to the public.”

“Put in place a marching order enjoining all of them to refrain discussion, much more entering into any transaction unless for purposes of inquiries until there is already declaration of the lowest bidder,” Rama said.

“This is not a gag order, we are just following the law so that everybody will be properly guided,” he added.

Rama said he will make an official letter on his directive.

The mayor explained that the order is to primarily put off “insinuation, suspicion, preemption and appalling impression that may jeopardize CCMC again.”

Rama has declared a “failure of bidding” for the P300 million new CCMC’s first phase of construction last year.

The 10-storey hospital will rise on the 500-square meter property located at the corner of N. Bacalso Avenue and Panganiban Street. The medical facility would cost around P1.5 billion.

Such declaration came after the BAC disqualified the lowest bidder, the joint venture of WTG Construction Inc. and A.M. Oreta and Co., for alleged misrepresentations and falsification in their bid documents.

Despite the order, Rama assured the “transparency” in the implementation of the project.

“Transparency can only be ensured if you practice ethics and if you have learning on good manners and right conduct,” he said.

City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete, who heads the BAC for CCMC project, would be made responsible for the leaked information.

Poblete, nevertheless, assured that none of the information involving the bidding will be given out to the public.

“Sakto man pud si mayor. Dili man pud mi allowed makig-interact or talk with the interested contractors pertaining to the evaluation of bid, among others. Rest assured that no premature divulgement of information,” he said.

Poblete cited Section 32.1. of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9184 which provides that, “Members of the BAC, including its staff and personnel, as well as its Secretariat and TWG, are prohibited from making or accepting any communication with any bidder regarding the evaluation of their bids until the issuance of the Notice of Award.”

The law, however, states that the BAC, through its secretariat, may ask in writing the bidder for a clarification of its bid.

All responses to requests for clarification must be in writing.