MANILA - Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said the local government saved over P150 million in 5 months due to changes in the public bidding process.

In a Facebook post, Sotto said the savings was due to the city's "open and honest-to-goodness" public bidding process.

Once he assumed office, Sotto said he ordered all Approved Budget of Contracts, or the highest price a contractor can bid for, to be reduced by at least of 10 percent.

"Puwedeng gawin dahil hindi naman ako tumatanggap ng kickback," he said.

(It is possible because I don't accept kickbacks.)

Sotto added that since the bidding process is now truly open, prices became more competitive.

"The bidding process is now truly open, rigidly following the correct procedures (naka-FB live pa). As a result, competition is high and prices go down," he said, adding that winning bids can now be around 10 percent to 25 percent lower than the approved budget.

Though it was not easy, Sotto said it was worth it because it will be the citizens of Pasig who benefit from it.

"Hindi madali ang ginagawa nating paglilinis, pero sulit ang hirap. Dahil sa dulo, ang ordinaryong mamamayan ang makikinabang. Mas maraming pondo para sa iba't ibang serbisyo, lalo na sa serbisyong pangkalusugan," he said.

(This cleaning process is not easy but it's worth it. Because in the end, it will be the ordinary people who will benefit from it. More funds will be allotted for different services, especially health services.)