Changes in bidding process for security deployment sought

MANILA, Philippines - Leading private security companies, together with the Philippine Association of Detectives and Protective Agency operators (PADPAO) have closed ranks to try and correct what they describe as a basic flaw in the bidding process for security guard deployment.

Thomas L. Lanting, head of the Lanting Security and Watchman Agency, said the root cause of the problem is Circular 02-2006 issued in 2006 by the Government Procurement policy Board.

The circular states that “all private agencies participating in the bidding for government contracts may offer different bids without being charged of cut-throat competiton with the Rules for the Procurement of Goods under Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184); provided further that they do not go below the standard salaries and benefits for the guards and the mandated taxes in the minimum cost distribution formula.”

Instead of making the awarding of bids more equitable and fair, the bidding process became more cut-throat with certain unscrupulous security agencies taking the so-called “dive” in tendering their bids just to get the contract at all cost, Lanting observed.   

PADPAO president Ramon Bergado noted that there is now a concerted effort to come up with a position paper to resolve this issue designed to streamline and professionalize the security industry.

It is common knowledge in the industry that the lowest bid is not necessarily the best because the quality of the delivery of security service is compromised with the deployment of the least qualified guards who are out to get a job by all means.

“This aberration persists due to the lapse in the aforesaid circular which only seeks to safeguard the interest of security personnel but overlooks agency fee for established security firms,” said Lanting.

Moreover, “this situation is aggravated by some security operators who undercut the bidding with unrealistically low offers and who, in turn, pad their income by scrimping on the salary of their least qualified but docile guards,” he added.