Iloilo irrigation project

Regarding the news story “Group asks SC: Review TRO vs. Iloilo project” (Regions, 9/27/17), we would like to explain the circumstances of our concern.

Based on our initial inquiry and gathered information about the much delayed project, we learned of the following.

1. Two participating bidders, Daewoo Engineering and Construction and Daelim-GS (JV), submitted their respective bid proposals during the conduct of the project bidding held at the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office on Feb. 12, 2016.

2. Since the NIA bids and awards committee (BAC) used the single stage, two-envelope bidding process, the technical bid documents of the bidders were opened first and consequently evaluated. As reported, the technical bid proposal of Daewoo Engineering and Construction was incomplete and noncomplying. The initial evaluation revealed some deficiencies such as: a) qualifications of nominated project manager and deputy project manager do not meet the prescribed qualification criteria; b) lacking lump sum price analysis as well as unit price analysis; c) business registration without authentication from the Philippine Embassy in Korea; and d) nonsubmission of list of equipment to be mobilized within 20 days. These deficiencies are considered sufficient grounds for the NIA BAC to disregard its price bid proposal and consequently disqualify Daewoo Engineering and Construction.

3. The said TRO has affected the credibility of the NIA bidding process and caused the substantial delay in the project execution. Moreover, we suspect that political personalities may have interfered and financially benefited. Thus, we have also requested the new NIA leadership to revisit and review the project bidding conducted by the past administration to clear doubts on the fairness and transparency of the bidding process.

Aware of the sensitivity of the Korean government — which provided the ODA fund — to corruption issues, we are alarmed of the possible consequence of project cancellation.

RAYMUNDO L. JUNIA, chair, Institute for Consumer Research and Empowerment, 6264 Calle Estacion, Makati City