DILG livestreams public bidding for P1.27 B worth of emergency vehicles
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has linvestreamed the conduct of the bidding for the P1.27 billion worth of vehicles for the Unified Emergency 911 National Office through Facebook.
The DILG said the move is intended to do away with ny suspicions of corruption practices usually associated in these proceedings.
The DILG’s bidding procurement process included motorcycles, patrol cars and ambulances, key essentials that ensure that the responders reach people faster during accidents, fires, medical emergencies, disasters and similar emergency situations.
Through the DILG’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), the bidding was held in line with the President’s directive to strengthen transparency, accountability, and clean government transactions.
Supervised by DILG Undersecretaries Omar Romero and Jon Paulo Salvahan, and Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete, the bid documents submitted by the participating suppliers were thoroughly examined and scrutinized with extreme caution.
In a statement, the DILG pointed out that the procurement for light motorcycles advanced to the next stage of evaluation, while the bidders for the procurement of patrol cars and ambulances were declared ineligible due to incomplete or non-compliant documents, reflecting the DILG’s strict observance of the procurement process.
Representatives from the Commission on Audit (COA), together with the DILG Technical Working Group and Procurement Management Division, were also present to help ensure integrity and proper procedure throughout the activity.
“The procurement package includes light motorcycles worth P238.29 million, patrol cars worth P607.21 million, and ambulances worth P434.44 million,’’ the DILG noted.
The DILG said the additional vehicles will strengthen the operational capacity of the 911 system and help emergency responders deliver quicker and more dependable service to communities nationwide.
On his part, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla emphasized that public trust is built when government funds are used properly and every process is done fairly, openly and according to law.