Angara: Senate has own schedule on economic Cha-cha hearings
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CHANGING THE LOWEST CALCULATED BID PROVISION: Sen. Sonny Angara presides over the Committee on Finance hearing Wednesday, February 28, 2024 on various measures seeking to amend Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA). During the hearing, Angara solicited the opinion of the Commission on Audit (COA) whether the current Lowest Calculated Bid (LCB) policy in government procurement is still responsive to the changing times. “Another issue we would like to consult with you is the new concept. It was mentioned by President (Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.) that quality of the item or product sometimes suffer as a result of the lowest calculated bid. So, we are introducing the most economic... or mirror the most economically advantageous responsive bid as an alternative,” Angara said. Responding to the senator’s question, COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba expressed support to plans amending the LCB policy to the most economically advantageous responsive bid, saying there are instances when contractors bid lower and offer inferior products or infrastructure just to get the government contract. (Joseph B. Vidal / Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will follow its schedule on deliberating its version of the resolution of both houses, which seeks to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, according to Senator Sonny Angara.
Angara made the statement following the lower chamber approval of its Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7 — which mimicked the upper chamber’s RBH 6 containing specific economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution – for the third and final reading.
“We have our own sched[ule], we’re moving fast, but it’s not our only priority,” the senator said in an ambush interview on Thursday.
“We have our schedule; we announced our schedule and mentioned it once or twice already. There’s no changes,” he added.
As the head of the subcommittee deliberations on RBH No. 6, Angara said they will continue to hold hearings on the measure and aim to bring it to plenary before the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
RBH No. 7 was approved last Wednesday with 289 affirmative votes from lawmakers. Seven lawmakers voted in the negative, while two abstained.
