Herrera leads investigation on P168-M bid

Following persistent calls for transparency in the P168-million bidding for the purchase of heavy equipment of the provincial government, no less than Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera was designated to head the review of the bid process.
In a memorandum issued by Gov. Erico Aumentado dated March 4, 2009, the Review Committee was created composed of Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. as vice chairman, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Bohol Chapter President Atty. John Mitchell Boiser and Internal Audit Service (IAS) chief Jerome Maniwang, as members.
The committee was requested by the governor to complete its inquiry until March 16 and submit its recommendation for appropriate action.
"It must be remembered that the provincial government is racing against time in order to avail of the summer season to work on the provincial roads that need immediate repair and improvement," Aumentado said.
In an interview with the Chronicle, Herrera said the alleged giving of "undue advantage to preferred suppliers" has to be looked into without delaying further the procurement of much-needed heavy equipment.
"We will work on this expeditiously without encroaching on another investigation being conducted by the newly-formed Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee on public accountability," the vice governor stressed.
During its regular session on Tuesday, provincial lawmakers approved en masse the creation of the new committee chaired by Board Member Asther Piollo.
"The urgency of this matter however will not be at the expense of coming up with a credible finding that will also deal with possible lapses in the procurement process," Herrera added.
The vice governor assured that the committee review will also tackle aspects raised by the complaining disenfranchised supplier Kowa Tsusho Ltd.
"The supplier had declared some very serious allegations that cast doubts not only on the integrity of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) but the entire provincial government," according to Herrera.
The vice governor said the controversy would eventually implicate provincial leaders if there were indeed violations of the bidding rules and regulations and these are not corrected.