Pinasisiyasat ni Senador Jinggoy Estrada sa Senado ang computer procurement program ng Department of Education (DepEd) para matukoy kung pinaiiral nila ang “splitting of contracts” para makapapagbigay ng multi-billion deal sa ilang pinaborang supplier ng ahensiya.
Sa isang statement, sinabi ni Estrada na pag-award ng kontrata sa isang katulad ding set ng suppliers at paghati ng malaking kontra ay ipinagbabawal sa ilalim ng Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“Based on my research on DepEd’s contracts, I always encounter the names of ASI or Advance Solutions Inc., Columbia Technologies, Reddot Imaging Philippines, Techguru Inc., and Girl Teki Inc. Why are these suppliers so lucky that they almost always win juicy Deped contracts that run into billions of pesos over the years?” tanong ni Estrada.
Ayon kay Estrada, ilan sa mga supplier ay nakakuha ng bilyong pisong halaga ng kontrata para mag-suplay ng Chinese-made na mga computer sa DepEd kahit na walang silang website, at ang kanilang mga opisina ay nasa mga tagong lugar sa Maynila.
“I also noticed that there have been several repeat orders made in favor of these suppliers. Take note that under Section 51 of the IRR [Implementing Rules and Regulations] of Republic Act 9184… the effect of repeat orders is that it dispenses with or foregoes the conduct of competitive public bidding,” sabi ng senador.
Habang matindi ang ginagawang pagdinig ng Senado sa kontrobersiyal na P2.4 bilyon laptop na binili noong 2021, sinabi ni Estrada na nanatiling ‘scot free’ at wala ni isang imbestigasyon o audit na ginagawa ang Commission on Audit (COA) sa ilang pinaborang supplier sa kabila ng kwestiyonableng procurement practices ng DepEd.
“For instance, Advance Solutions, Inc. and Columbia Technologies have been supplying DepEd for many years, and the value of their accumulated contracts amounts to billions. Why were they not scrutinized before? The same with Reddot Imaging, Girl Teki, and Tech Guru. Bakit hindi sila subjected sa investigation o audit report ng COA before?” tanong ni Estrada.
“Do we even know if these computers were all delivered and are working? Where are these computers now? Can DepEd account for them?” dagdag pa niya.
Paniwala pa ng senador, posibleng ilan sa pinaborang supplier ng DepEd tulad ng ASI, na natalo sa bidding para sa P2.4 bilyong laptop purchase deal noong 2021, ay nagso-sour graping lang at lumalabas bilang ‘resource speakers’ sa pagdinig sa Senado.
“Since when has the Senate become a forum to hear the gripes of losing bidders?” tanong pa ni Estrada.
Dagdag pa niya, ang pagkakaroon ng bagong supplier na sumasali sa bidding sa government contract ay nakakabuti para sa isang ‘healthy competitive environment’.
“We should be more welcoming to new players that would make for better competition. Don’t you think we are discouraging these new players from participating in government biddings if they are singled out for investigation?” diin ni Estrada. – Dindo Matining/ Abante