Irregularities in P17 million project?: Substandard tables, chairs

CEBU, Philippines - The irregularities in the manufacture of P17-million worth of armchairs and teacher’s tables for Cebu province were recently discovered.

Parents and teachers complained that the items delivered to their schools late last year and early this year are allegedly defective and sub-standard as they do not follow the specifications.

At Capitol, Provincial board member Victor Maambong said this needs immediate investigation as it affects the government’s program to push quality education in the public schools.

Maambong told The Freeman that he will file a resolution next week requesting the Provincial Board committee on education chairman Juan Bolo to conduct an ocular inspection of all armchairs and tables delivered to different public elementary and high school in the province.

The Freeman learned that these deliveries are part of the P17-million “2007 desks armchair project” of the Department of Education-Cebu Province Division.

It was also learned that the project was awarded to Gala Industries, Inc. represented by Sarah Galang. She is the daughter-in-law of Pedro Galang, Jr., the owner of Gala Indutries Inc.

The company was reportedly the third lowest bidder for the project.

The bidding of the school armchairs and desks was conducted on July 21, 2008.

Based on the documents gathered by The Freeman, the cost of one armchair is P780, P2,000 for each set of elementary table and chairs and P4,600 for a set of teacher’s table and chair.

Bidding

In a check made by The Freeman at the Department of Education-Provincial Office after receiving a tip on the alleged irregularities it was learned that the lowest bidder of the project was JEC Lumber Corporation followed by Ramagal Door and Sash Manufacturing.

JEC Lumber Corporation submitted a bid amounting to P17.228 million while Ramagal submitted a bid for P17.350 million.

Gala Industries Inc. submitted a bid for P17,760,750.

JEC and Ramagal were however disqualified by the Bids and Awards Committee for their alleged poor performance in previous projects.

Members of the Bids and Awards Committee said that the two disqualified bidders allegedly submitted defective papers and false information, which became the basis of their qualification.

The two contractors, in their motion for reconsideration, denied the allegations of the BAC and claimed that they have complied with the requirements and have even paid penalties.

Delivery

When the winning bidder delivered the items, the teachers noticed that nails, instead of bolts and screws, were used in the armchairs and desks.

There were also reportedly some missing handles in the teacher’s tables, which were supposed to be included based on the specifications.

The teachers, who are familiar with furniture, added that ordinary and not marine plywood was used for the tables and the finish was not done well.

At Jugan Elementary School in Consolacion town it was learned that during delivery of the tables, armchairs and desks, the teachers observed of defective drawers, uneven color of finishing, and the use of nails.

At Kagay Elementary School in Barili town, it was also reported that teachers noted the very poor workmanship and poor quality of the armchairs and tables that were delivered.

Among their observations was that the color is not in accordance with the approved color description and the finish was very rough.

It was also reported that the materials used were not in accordance with the specifications set by the Department of Education.

The same observation also made by teachers of San Fernando Central Elementary School in San Fernando town.

Of the total project cost of P17,760.750.00, P1,806,000 was for 903 sets for elementary desks and chairs; P1,169,220 for 1,499 armchairs for secondary students; P165,000 for 36 tables and chairs for elementary teachers; and P133,400 for 29 tables and chairs for secondary teachers.

The chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee, Judiana Corriente, said over radio station dyLA that there were no irregularities during the bidding.

Corriente and a BAC member Romoldo Abella said that Gala Industries complied with the specifications set.

However, Abella, changed his stand when he was shown the photos furnished by concerned citizens and said that they will issue an order for the contractor to rectify the problems.

DepEd-7 regional director Recaredo Borgonia told The Freeman that he heard about the complaints from the losing contractors.

He said that the project is not however under his office, but promised to look into the matter.

Sources at the Capitol said that 50 percent of the total project cost has been paid to the contractor.

They are looking into this since this should not have happened due to the problems with the items delivered.

The contractor can only be paid once it has delivered all items and have passed inspection. – /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)