SENATE PROBE

Ex-PhilHealth assistant questions bidding process for IT projects

Former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) head executive assistant Estrobal Laborte on Tuesday questioned the bidding process on the information technology procurement of the agency.

In a Senate hearing, Laborte testified that most of the IT contracts were awarded as a single calculated bid, and that almost no contracts were awarded to the lowest bidder.

"I noticed sir, mula nung dumating ako sa PhilHealth, nire-review ko lahat ng mga contracts pati 'yung previous nung IT projects nung 2018 and 2019. Nakikita ko po sir na palagi na lang na-award as single calculated bid," he said in response to Senator Panfilo Lacson's questioning.

"Wala po akong nakita na awarded to lowest bidder sir eh. Kung meron man, siguro sa isang taon kong stay po iisa lang ang nakita ko na awarded as lowest bidder, so nakakapagtaka po ito," he added.

Laborte previously served as PhilHealth head executive assistant. He backed out at the last minute from participating in last week's hearing due to "security reasons."

PhilHealth and its officials are under investigation over the agency's alleged overpriced purchase of an IT system worth over P2 billion.

"Marami pong IT projects tapos tuwing bidding proper, isa lang pong supplier ang dumadating, so automatic naa-award sa kanya as single calculated bid," said Laborte.

Laborte also said that contracts awarded are almost always close to the approved budget of contract (ABC), even if the items being procured have already depreciated.

"Since itong mga binibili sir is nag-depreciate na rin 'yung kaniyang price sa market, kasi sir ano eh, medyo mabagal din ang procurement or talagang sinasadyang bagalan sir, nagde-depreciate siya, pero ang bid price niya is palaging 99% of the ABC," he said.

"Minsan sir P1,000 lang 'yung diperensya pero ang ABC is P40 million, so nakakapagtaka po sir," he explained.

Other PhilHealth officials were also present at the Senate hearing, but have yet to respond to Laborte's remarks as of this posting. —KBK, GMA News