GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Three suppliers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 12 (Soccsksargen) have been placed under a “nationwide blacklist” for failing to properly deliver the department’s purchases.
Cezario Joel Espejo, DSWD-12 director, said Tuesday the banned suppliers comprise two advertising and marketing companies, and a furniture and office supplies store, all registered and operating in the region.
Espejo said the erring firms, which reportedly failed to comply with the specifications of the department’s purchase requirements, are now “blacklisted from participating in all government transactions”.
“The imposition of strong sanctions is part of our continuing campaign to make the agency a corrupt-free institution,” he said in a statement.
DSWD-12 identified the blacklisted suppliers as QPC Advertising and Marbel Gepcars Printing Press based in Koronadal City, and Rubee Marketing in Cotabato City.
Espejo said QPC was contracted by DSWD-12 last year to produce 2,338 pieces of vests intended for workers of the Listahanan program but failed to meet the specifications set by its bids and awards committee.
Data from the DSWD-12 procurement unit showed that QPC agreed to produce red vests made of brush twill fabric with embroidered DSWD and Listahanan logos in front, back, and upper back, he said.
However, the delivered items, worth a total of PHP701,400, were made of thin blue fabric and the logos were heat-press printed, Espejo said.
He said Marbel Gepcars delivered a single-string advocacy notebook, contrary to the agreed double-string specification worth PHP50,000.
Rubee Marketing, on the other hand, failed to deliver some PHP524,750 worth of furniture and office fixtures purchased by the regional office in 2018, Espejo said.
The three suppliers were barred from joining all government project bidding and other procurement transactions for one year he said, reminding other suppliers to be aware of the consequences if they fail to comply with the agreed specifications indicated in the purchase orders (PO).
Under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act of 2003, Espejo said private contractors who violate procurement laws may face, on top of criminal and civil liabilities, permanent disqualification from transacting business with the government.
“Changing the specification in the PO is a violation under the procurement law. The PO is a binding contract that all parties must comply with,” he said. -PNA
