Supreme Court: TIEZA should have bid out P2.3-million Christmas lights, decor deal

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<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Colorful lights bring a festive mood while motorists navigate Granada Street in Barangay Valencia, Quezon City on Nov. 16, 2021. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/11/17/1-granada-lantern-makers.jpg' ><figcaption>Colorful lights bring a festive mood while motorists navigate Granada Street in Barangay Valencia, Quezon City on Nov. 16, 2021. <em>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A construction and landscaping firm that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority awarded a contract to in 2011 was not the only possible source of Christmas decorations, the Supreme Court ruled as it upheld state auditors' disallowance of the P2.3 million paid for the project.</p><p>In a release, the SC Public Information Office said the contract for Christmas decor and lights for the Department of Tourism building should have been bid out according to the Government Procurement Reform Act.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/14/23/coa-to-dot-refund-p61-m-irregular-unnecessary-spending'>COA tells DOT: Refund P6.1 million 'irregular, unnecessary, excessive' spending</a></li></ul><p>Although direct contracting is allowed, the procuring agency must be able to justify skipping competitive bidding.</p><p>The SC, in its ruling, said the procuring agency should also "conduct an industry survey to determine the supply source and confirm the exclusivity of the source of goods or services to be procured."</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/23/p645-calendar-coa-asks-tieza-to-find-cheaper-giveaways'>P645 per calendar? COA asks TIEZA to find cheaper giveaways</a></li></ul><p>The SC PIO said the court stressed that the agency "must be able to prove that there is no suitable substitute in the market that can be obtained at more advantageous terms."</p><p>Because TIEZA failed to show that the Christmas lights and decorations could not be procured anywhere else, the Court said the disallowance of the disbursement of funds for the project should be affirmed.</p><p>TIEZA COO Mark Lapid and other officials brought the disallowance, which had already been affirmed by the Commission on Audit Proper, to the Supreme Court for review.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/11/23/ombudsman-wants-coa-to-stop-publishing-audit-observations'>Ombudsman wants COA to stop publishing audit observations</a></li></ul><p>Money from a disallowed disbursement must be returned to the government. </p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QPu_YYXp7X8?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>Although direct contracting is allowed, the procuring agency must be able to justify skipping competitive bidding.</p><p>The SC, in its ruling, said the procuring agency should also "conduct an industry survey to determine the supply source and confirm the exclusivity of the source of goods or services to be procured."</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/11/23/p645-calendar-coa-asks-tieza-to-find-cheaper-giveaways'>P645 per calendar? COA asks TIEZA to find cheaper giveaways</a></li></ul><p>The SC PIO said the court stressed that the agency "must be able to prove that there is no suitable substitute in the market that can be obtained at more advantageous terms."</p><p>Because TIEZA failed to show that the Christmas lights and decorations could not be procured anywhere else, the Court said the disallowance of the disbursement of funds for the project should be affirmed.</p><p>TIEZA COO Mark Lapid and other officials brought the disallowance, which had already been affirmed by the Commission on Audit Proper, to the Supreme Court for review.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/11/23/ombudsman-wants-coa-to-stop-publishing-audit-observations'>Ombudsman wants COA to stop publishing audit observations</a></li></ul><p>Money from a disallowed disbursement must be returned to the government. </p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QPu_YYXp7X8?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>In a release, the SC Public Information Office said the contract for Christmas decor and lights for the Department of Tourism building should have been bid out according to the Government Procurement Reform Act.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/14/23/coa-to-dot-refund-p61-m-irregular-unnecessary-spending'>COA tells DOT: Refund P6.1 million 'irregular, unnecessary, excessive' spending</a></li></ul>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Colorful lights bring a festive mood while motorists navigate Granada Street in Barangay Valencia, Quezon City on Nov. 16, 2021. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/11/17/1-granada-lantern-makers.jpg' ><figcaption>Colorful lights bring a festive mood while motorists navigate Granada Street in Barangay Valencia, Quezon City on Nov. 16, 2021. <em>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A construction and landscaping firm that the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority awarded a contract to in 2011 was not the only possible source of Christmas decorations, the Supreme Court ruled as it upheld state auditors' disallowance of the P2.3 million paid for the project.</p>

Although direct contracting is allowed, the procuring agency must be able to justify not going through competitive bidding.

Supreme Court: TIEZA should have bid out P2.3-million Christmas lights, decor deal | ABS-CBN News

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Supreme Court: TIEZA should have bid out P2.3-million Christmas lights, decor deal

Supreme Court: TIEZA should have bid out P2.3-million Christmas lights, decor deal