'Nothing anomalous in DAR office supplies procurement'

By Erly C. Garcia

There was nothing anomalous with the reported controversial procurement of office supplies by the Provincial Office of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). This was clarified by top officials of the DAR Provincial Office headed by Provincial Director Ric Fernandez. in a press conference held Monday.

Provincial Director Ric Fernandez

Fernandez explained that no formal bidding was made with regard to the transaction due to the immediate need for office supplies during the time.

He said what was resorted to was the alternative form of procurement under Section 52 of Republic Act 9184 or The Government Procurement Reform Act.

Section 52 refers to Shopping mode of procurement which says “whereby the procuring entity simply requests for the submission of price quotations for readily available off-the-shelf goods or ordinary/regular equipment to be procured directly from suppliers of known qualifications.”

This method of procurement applies, among others, “in the procurement of ordinary or regular office supplies and equipment not available in the Procurement Service involving an amount not exceeding two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000)...”

Fernandez said they have also checked on the eligibility of suppliers basing on the various permits and certifications they have submitted.

On the issue of erasures on the Purchase Order, Fernandez said it was made only after negotiations were made to further reduce the price after suppliers with lowest quotations had already been determined.

Fernandez claimed, “the office is about to realize a savings of at least P30,000 in the transaction.” It was learned that the office supplies amounted to 120,000.

To note, Fernandez formed a three-man team composed of lawyers Joseph Areno, Felina Toroy and Joy Fuentes to probe the alleged irregularities.
 
Reportedly, among those called by the probe team are key DAR figures belonging to the General Services Section, principal canvasser of the department and the suppliers concerned.

Fernandez however said the investigating team found out that “there is absolutely no prejudice to the government and that the Office  is in fact about to realize savings; and that there is no probable cause to hold any DAR official liable for violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.