Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 28) — Bureau of Corrections inmates did not receive proper medical care in 2019 due to the delay in the agency’s procurement of drugs and medicines, state auditors reported.
“The Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) were deprived of the much-needed medical care due to long procurement processing of drugs and medicines requirement of New Bilibid Prison Hospital (NBPH), Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) and Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) for CY 2019,” the Commission on Audit’s recent audit report on the Justice Department-led bureau read.
The COA said the process went beyond the maximum allowable time of three months, as prescribed by the revised implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.
Seven procurement projects amounting to ₱65.5 million were awarded beyond the allowable period, with COA noting a 71 to 75-day delay in the issuance of their Notice of Award (NOA).
A 119-day delay has also been observed as of end-January last year for the issuance of Notice to Proceed (NTP) to 14 projects totalling ₱56.5 million. Since the bid execution began on July 5, 2019, the allowable period ran until September 4 last year.
The report likewise revealed projects with NOAs and NTPs only delivered in January this year worth ₱63.5 million, meaning PDLs did not receive the necessary drugs and medicines for CY 2019.
The delayed procurement “may expose them to the risk of not being cured of their ailments and worst, may cause their death,” COA reported.
The Commission said BuCor blamed the delay in the delivery of medicines to PDLs to the ‘GCTA fiasco’ which became a national issue.
The bureau was in hot water last year over the questionable release of some convicts under the Good Conduct Time Allowance law, which led to the firing of BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon. Gerald Bantag has since been appointed as the body’s new head.
BuCor also told COA that the performance of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) was also affected, after its chairman “was suspended from prison service by the Ombudsman.” Several members had also been reassigned to other BuCor colonies.
“The new BAC initiated the conduct of activities for unfinished bidding process; hence, projects on bidding for PDL medicines were delivered to the advantage of the government but not on item which funds became unobligated due to aforementioned circumstances,” read the BuCor’s comment to COA.
The COA recommended that the bureau “strictly” comply with the procurement timelines as prescribed and ensure the projects are awarded within the maximum allowable time, which the BuCor acknowledged.
The Commission also recommended that the bureau submit an explanation on its delayed procurement procedures.
Anomalies in hiring of consultants
The COA also flagged concerns in the hiring of seven consultants in the bureau.
It noted that they performed work which did not require highly technical expertise and can be fulfilled by regular personnel.
Under the RIRR of R.A. 9184, consultants are hired to do work that is either “highly technical or proprietary” or “primarily confidential or policy determining, where trust and confidence are the primary consideration.”
The education and work experiences of some hirees also did not match the functions required, the COA noted.
Their compensation rate was also higher than the salary grade of a comparative plantilla position performing such functions, said the state auditor.
“It was noted that end-user’s requests for procurement of consultants were not attached to the set of documents supporting the said procurement; thus, propriety of the purpose/need for consultants was doubtful,” read the audit report.
Among the COA’s recommendations to the bureau are the assessment of its organizational structure to ascertain whether there is really a need for individual consultants; submission of the end-user request for procurement of consultants and copy of Contract of Service of the concerned individual; and strict adherence to the provisions of RA 9184 particularly on the procurement of consultants.
