‘Premature’ to probe firms on DBM blacklist: Palace

FILE: Medical technologists of the Philippine Coast Guard help each other wear personal protective equipment (PPE) during the opening of the swabbing facility at the Palacio De Maynila, Roxas Boulevard, Manila on Tuesday (May 5, 2020). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday said it is “premature” to say that the government would investigate the three companies blacklisted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that secured deals to supply the government with personal protective equipment (PPE).

This was after reports showed that Ferjan Health Link Enterprises, Cebu business Materials Trading Co., Inc., and Jozeth Trading secured PHP727 million worth of PPE and other medical supplies during the procurement despite being blacklisted by the DBM.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he could not comment because he just read about this development on the news.

“Hindi ko po alam kung questionable iyan kaya nga po tatanungin natin ang DBM ‘no, kasi hindi ko pa po naririnig kung ano ang explanation galing sa DBM (I don’t know if that’s questionable. That’s why I’m going to ask the DBM because I haven’t heard their explanation yet),” Roque said in a virtual Palace briefing.

He said he would have to ask the DBM to explain the issue before making any comment.

“I think it’s premature to say we’re investigating. I will just clarify kung totoo (if it’s true), first and foremost, na (that) PHP750 million worth of PPE ay na-award sa isang (were awarded to a) blacklisted company. And if so, bakit at ano ang dapat gawin (why and what should we do),” Roque said.

Meanwhile, he expressed confidence that if indeed violations were made, these would be flagged by the Commission on Audit.

“Sa aking tingin naman, kung talagang mayroong paglabag sa batas ay ipa-flag din po iyan ng Commission on Audit (I think if there really were any violations, they would be flagged by the Commission on Audit),” Roque said.

A report from the Inquirer.net quoted DBM spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo, as saying that blacklisted entities were “not allowed from participating in any of the bidding activities of the government for the period of blacklisting.”

Toledo said the blacklisting rule “applied to all bidding acts of the government, including under Bayanihan 1,” even when emergency procurement was implemented.

Earlier, Roque took pride in having more local manufacturers of PPE amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also cited the need for the government to patronize locally produced PPE, which are standard-compliant and more competitive in pricing.