The consortium of Mactan Rock Industries Inc. was again the lone bidder for the bulk water supply project of the Bacolod City Water District for Injection Point 2, and was declared the lowest calculated bid at the pre-bidding yesterday at Business Inn, Bacolod.

Together with its partners, Tubig Pilipinas and TGV Builders Inc., Mactan Rock complied with all the required legal, technical and financial documents which will be subject to post-qualification procedure.

It was declared a single calculated bid and will be subject for evaluation during the post-qualification procedure to be conducted by the Bids and Awards Committee within 30 days.

Baciwa director David Villanueva said that under Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, they can proceed with the bidding even if there is only one bidder. There would only be a failure of bidding if the bidder failed even in just one requirement, he said.

Villanueva said Mactan Rock was able to satisfy all the requirements so the BAC opened envelop no. 2, which contained their price offer for Injection No. 2 of P9.85 per cubic meter, which is below the ceiling that they have set at P10 per cubic meter.

According to the representative of the Office of the Government Corporate Council who was present, the activity was within the requirement and standards set under RA 9184, he said.

BAC chairman Jenelyn Gemora said they will post-qualify Mactan Rock by visiting the identified water source and validate if the prospective bidder can deliver the volume of water they require. They will also verify their ongoing and completed projects to see their performance.

Gemora said she considers the pre-bid successful because the bid offer was below their maximum price of P10 per cubic meter.

They did not show the feasibility study because they wanted the prospective bidder to study the viability of the project, she said.

They will also require the other bidders to explain why they did not submit their bid proposals during the 2-day bidding for Injection Nos. 1 and 2, Gemora said.

Gemora said they have been transparent in conducting the bidding for bulk water and this project is for the people of Bacolod.

Mactan Rock's bid offer for Injection Point 1 in Brgy. Granada was P8.85 per cubic meter.

Mark Roxas, Tubig Pilipinas corporate secretary, said their bid offer for Injection Point 1 (Granada) is lower compared to Injection No. 2 (Mansilingan) due to the distance of the tapping point to the injection point. Since the distance from the tapping point to Injection No. 2 is significantly farther, this will also contribute to the pipe cost, he said.

Roxas said they will deliver within 18 months based on the bid documents and they will do their best to employ people from Bacolod and surrounding areas within the construction period.

He noted that consumers' group and even the Sangguniang Panlungsod have asked Baciwa to stop the bulk water project.

“We did not do this overnight. Mactan Rock has been looking at this project for about 10 years,” Roxas said.

Elvira Benedicto, area manager of Mactan Rock, said what they are doing is legal and they have studied the project for more than five years. Why are there groups who want to sue us? she asked.

Roger Reyes, a consumer, said they will file a case questioning the legality of the bidding and the contract Baciwa will be entering into with the winning bidder.

Mactan Rock was one of the 10 companies that earlier expressed interest to join the bidding.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said he will just respect Baciwa's decision.

The result of the pre-bid dispelled insinuations that he had a favored bidder. He is very transparent in his dealings with Baciwa, he said.

Puentevella said the Baciwa officials know their job. He will just wait for their report.

Gemora said they will also render a report to the mayor regarding the P537 million loan that will contain all the elements of the project.*CGS

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