House probe into BFP fire truck procurement bidding process sought

During the hearing for the proposed P251.184-billion budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for 2023, an allocation of P27.77 billion for the BFP came under scrutiny.

Philstar.com / File photo

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers of the progressive Makabayan bloc are urging the House of Representatives to conduct a legislative probe into what they said were the “restrictive and questionable” fire truck procurement bidding process of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

In filing House Joint Resolution 15, the Makabayan bloc claimed that the “BFP has imposed restrictions in its published Bidding Documents that effectively ‘tailored-fit’ the process to favored suppliers.” As a result, since November 2018, contracts have been disproportionately awarded to two joint venture entities: the Davao-based JROG Marketing and F. Cura Industries.

“These restrictive BFP bidding processes have possibly given undue advantages to favored suppliers and possibly prejudiced, not only other competent suppliers but also the public and the government in general,” the lawmakers said. 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/19/2231853/house-probe-bfp-fire-truck-procurement-bidding-process-sought