Solon encourages DepEd to push through with project

A party-list lawmaker on Monday said complaints and threats against government officials by losing bidders for government projects is commonplace.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza made the pronouncement in light of a threat from Multifocus Corp, a losing bidder-supplier, to file charges against Education Undersecretary Jesus Lorenzo Mateo of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for alleged inaction on its complaint against a winning bidder.

"Iyung mga ganyang reklamo ay natural, that is a regular occurrence (in the bidding process)," Atienza said in a statement.

The complaint filed by Multifocus Corp. stemmed from DepEd BAC's Bid Bulletin 2, issued in September 2016, for the mass production, supply and delivery of Math and Science equipment for public schools. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/589528/money/companies/losing-bidder-threatens-raps-vs-deped-exec-for-inaction

The company had asked DepEd to investigate the winning bidder's supposed failure to completely deliver or accomplish various projects awarded to it, and, if warranted, suspend or blacklist the company from subsequent DepEd bidding.

Atienza, a former Manila mayor and Environment secretary, said he had his share of companies threatening to blackmail or sue him, because they felt that the bidding was rigged.

Atienza said winning bidders and government officials should not allow such threats to hamper government projects, saying public service should not be delayed because of a complaint.

He added that such threats of criminal and administrative charges, in fact, gives government agencies and winning bidders a chance to prove transparency in the bidding process.

"It gives the department a chance to prove their transparency. And I hope they will not get sidetracked by these instances. Just go on with the project especially if it will involve the students," he said. — BAP, GMA News