Tolentino files bill barring OICs of gov’t agencies from entering huge contracts, long-term agreements

Senator Francis Tolentino has filed a bill barring officers-in-charge (OIC) in government agencies from entering into long-term agreements and high-value contracts.

Senate Bill 2434 seeks to amend Section 17, Chapter V, Title I, Book III and Section 27, Chapter V, Title I (A), Book V of the Administrative Code because it “does not expressly define the limitations in the powers and authority that an OIC may exercise,” the lawmaker said.

“Since OICs are only designated to ensure that the day-to-day operations of the office will not be hampered, and they lack the authority to exercise discretionary powers, it is incumbent upon the appointing authority to fill the position with permanent appointments,” Tolentino said in his explanatory note.

The proposed measure likewise aims to prevent temporary appointees from holding the position for a long period of time to ensure efficiency in government operations.

Under SB 2434, the powers of OICs will be confined only to functions of administration and ensuring that the office continues its usual activities.

Tolentino also included a provision which limits the designation of the OIC within six months.

The lawmaker said he filed the bill due to the issues that floated during the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the P42 billion government funds for COVID-19 response transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service.

During the course of the investigation, the senators learned that DBM-PS OIC Christopher Lloyd Lao had transacted with different corporations for the procurement of billions-worth of medical supplies.

Among the transactions entered into by Lao was the alleged overpriced medical supplies purchased from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation is a small firm which has P650,000 start-up capital, but managed to bag billions worth of government contract for the procurement of medical supplies.

Pharmally, Lao, and other officials of PS-DBM have denied that the procured COVID-19 supplies were overpriced.

Even President Rodrigo Duterte defended the procurement of COVID-19 supplies by the PS-DBM, noting that there was no corruption as alleged by some senators.—AOL/RSJ, GMA News