Countering allegations that the 13 Isuzu Crosswinds for provincial board members is overpriced, Gov. Erico Aumentado said the bidding and award of the purchase contract is in order.The vehicle purchase is funded out of a P10.8 million savings of the provincial government from salaries of unfilled positions in its different offices.
Aumentado personally presented a computation of the purchase of the 13 brand new vehicles refuting claims that the Crosswinds are overpriced by at least P17,000 each.
The bidding and award of the vehicle purchase already raised doubts when only one bidder, Isuzu Mandaue, submitted a proposal.
According to Aumentado, the approved budget of the contract (ABC) was P10,666,914.83 or P820,531.90 for each unit. This unit price is allegedly P17,000 higher than the selling price of a local Isuzu dealer.
The submitted price of Isuzu Mandaue exactly matched the ABC.
However, the governor justified that due to government procurement rules which requires deductions of 1% for EVAT and a withholding tax of 5%, the net cost of each unit is already P771,709.41.
Aumentado said the net price is much lower than the alleged selling price of a local supplier which is P783,000.
The purchase of new vehicles for provincial board members provoked a public debate as most of the existing vehicles of the lawmakers are still serviceable.
Board members explained that the purchase of new vehicles were necessary for them to efficiently attend to the needs and concerns of their constituents.
Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera himself said that the vehicles are “a necessity rather than a luxury”.
The plan to buy new vehicles started in 2005, when Herrera objected to the high maintenance and repair costs incurred by the provincial government on the old vehicles.
Aumentado said under the Government Procurement Act, awarding a contract to a lone bidder is allowed as long as the bid price submitted is responsive to ABC.
(By: KIT BAGAIPO)
(By: KIT BAGAIPO)
1 comment:
Gov. Aumentado must lead by example. Why should we buy new vehicles when we had still serviceable ones which we can see in our actual eyes that had been used by current users like the Board Members? If we have still budget, it's better if we should used it for much better purpose like the agri-fisheries sector's needs like rice sufficiency program and the mass production of seaweeds in the northern portion of Bohol. Please reconsider your decision. Think first about the welfare of your constituents, not the few ones who does not prioritize farmers and fisherfolks in the rural areas. They (board members including the vice-governor)do have lots of vehicles for going around, even their still serviceable vehicles used now. Thank you!!
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