Duterte: Ditch lowest-bid policy, government must buy the best
August 4, 2017 at 15:56
Duterte: Ditch lowest-bid policy, government must buy the best
President Duterte has called on Congress to amend the government procurement law that would put a premium on the quality of goods instead of the lowest bid.
The President recently met with senators in Malacañang and asked them to resolve the corruption-prone rule that grants government contracts to the lowest bidder.
Duterte argued that the lowest price for a government project or equipment oftentimes come at the cost of quality of such service.
“Itong lowest bid, ito and pinaka-source ng corruption. Sinabi ko kila Drilon kagabi, nagkita man kami, pati sila Ping, sila Honasan, Chiz Escudero: ‘Do something about this [The lowest bid is the main source of corruption. I told (Senators Franklin) Drilon, Ping (Lacson), (Gregorio) Honasan, Chiz Escudero in our meeting last Tuesday night to do something about this],” he said during the Bureau of Internal Revenue anniversary ceremony in Quezon City last Wednesday.
“Ang lowest bidder is a 1-2-3 guy. ‘Pag manalo ‘yan [If he wins], it could be a miracle if you really get something of your money’s worth that is really the appropriate price as the lowest bid,” he added.
In seeking procurement reforms, the President said the government must always “buy the best” and not necessarily choose the lowest priced goods and services.
Duterte, in another speech during the anniversary of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday, complained that the winning bidder usually lowers their price but will “deliver the worst.”
Duterte said he already informed the Commission on Audit (COA) that government contracts would not go to the lowest bidding contractor during his term.
“Don’t force me to be a party to a corruption, every transaction you go for the lowest bid, because it is always a product of corruption. Plain and simple,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to buy only the best equipment for government personnel, including the fire bureau.
“When you buy, you buy the best,” he said.
The President previously complained about the lowest bid policy after noticing the purchase of cheap yet poorly made equipment in government.
He made the argument as he promised to buy modern and reliable equipment for the soldiers and policemen during his term.
Source: https://www.
