DPWH livestreams bidding amid corruption allegation

MANILA, Philippines — Amid accusations of corruption in the agency, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it would livestream the bidding for procurements to allow the public to monitor the process online.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar made the announcement amid speculations that the agency’s personnel and project contractors have been conniving with some congressmen to commit corruption.

Villar announced over the weekend that from the previous practice of having only authorized observers and civil society groups to witness the bidding process, they are now more transparent and giving the public the opportunity to watch the bidding online.

“In the past, we are concentrated on the duly authorized observers and engagement of accredited civil society organizations as monitors of the procurement proceedings, (but) this livestreaming efforts create the feeling for any interested people of being there,” said Villar.

He issued Department Order 105 pursuant to Administrative Order 34 that President Duterte signed to direct agencies under the executive department to implement policies toward transparency, accountability and good governance in the procurement process. In line with this, they are also preparing the information technology infrastructure to swiftly implement the policy.

Under Department Order 105, all implementing offices shall ensure transparency in the procurement of infrastructure projects by posting on official website and/or social media platforms the following information: project name; approved budget for the contract; contract period; name of winning bidder and its official business address; amount of contract awarded; date of award and acceptance; and implementing office/unit/division/bureau.

The DPWH also considered the safety measures that would have to be implemented to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic such as the online submission and receipts of proposed bids from contractors in the procurement of civil works.

This will ensure the safety, health and welfare of both the DPWH personnel and the contractors doing business with the agency.

“More importantly, the decision to move the DPWH procurement process online is intended to lessen human intervention in receiving bids and therefore reduce the avenue for graft and corruption,” said Villar.

With this setup, the bidders are encouraged to directly submit through email their bids to the bids and awards committee secretariat of each procuring entity through their dedicated email addresses.

Contractors are also advised to refer to Department Order 87 posted on the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph for the respective emails of the procuring entities in the Central Office, Regional and District Engineering Offices and for more detailed instruction of the new online bidding system.