The DPWH National Capital Region led by Regional Director Ador G. Canlas held its meeting with the Office of the President’s Ease of Doing Business-Anti-Red Tape Authority (EODB-ARTA) during the NCR Regional Staff Conference at Club Intramuros, on August 28, 2019.
Representatives from EODB-ARTA discussed a briefing on ARTA World Bank Doing Business Report (Contracting with Government) and the Baseline Survey on Regulatory Practice in the country.
Mentioned in the briefing is the letter dated August 5, 2019 of Atty. Jeremiah Belgica, Director General, ARTA, to Secretary Mark A. Villar requesting the accomplishment of a baselining questionnaire regarding the regulatory management practices of government agencies.
NCR Director Ador G. Canlas is requested to be the sole respondent and at the same time approve the filled-up survey.
The survey will help ARTA understand in more detail the interaction between regulators and the private sector when shaping and implementing regulations affecting the citizenry.
Also discussed on the briefing is the World Bank Doing Business Report published annually by the World Bank – International Finance Corporations (WB-IFC).
DPWH NCR is requested by the EODB-ARTA to assist in the Methodology (Case Study) in which the region, being the bidding company, will check on all contracts that entail resurfacing 20 kilometers of a flat two (2)-lane road (not a highway and not under concession), connecting the largest business city to another city within the same state, region or province, if applicable), with an asphalt overlay of 40 to 59 mm (or its most common equivalent in the economy); valued at USD 2.5 Million; and does not include any other work (such as site clearance, subsoil drainage, bridgework or further routine maintenance).
The region, being also the procuring entity, will have to be in charge of procuring construction works for the authority that owns the road described mentioned; and is the sole funder of the works, has budget for the works and is solvent.
The procurement process must be open, unrestricted, and competitive public call for tender for resurfacing a road like the one described; is completed without complaints / challenges / protests from interested parties; and the procurement process must end with the awarding of the contract to the region, whose bid satisfied all technical and administrative criteria and offered the best value for money.
As per World Bank, up to one fifth of the value of government contracts may be lost to corruption.
On many national markets, the public sector is the biggest buyer, so when used strategically, public procurement can act as a catalyst for economic growth and social inclusion.
The World Bank team plans to include the indicator’s data and methodology in an Annex to the Doing Business 2020 report.
The indicator will be considered for inclusion in the Doing Business ranking of the countries by the World Bank