COA flags procurement training of Pavia as ‘non-compliant’

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged significant irregularities in procurement training attended by members of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and the Technical Working Group (TWG) of Pavia, Iloilo, raising concerns about the municipality’s governance and the effective management of public funds.

According to COA’s 2023 annual audit report, key personnel from Pavia’s procurement team participated in seminars held in Baguio City and Tagbilaran City to bolster their understanding of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184, the Philippines’ procurement law.

The seminars in question covered various topics, including ethical considerations in public procurement and jurisprudence related to accountability in procurement.

However, these training sessions were conducted by private entities that did not comply with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) guidelines.

The GPPB requires that such training be conducted or accredited by recognized trainers to ensure that the participants receive up-to-date and accurate information.

The report highlighted that the seminars attended by Pavia’s BAC and TWG members were not led by GPPB-recognized trainers, which could undermine the integrity of the procurement process in the municipality.

COA noted, “The procurement seminars attended by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), Technical Working Group (TWG), and procurement personnel were not in accordance with GPPB Circular No. 07-2018, thereby rendering the validity of the training doubtful, as well as precluding the procurement officers and employees from acquiring the knowledge needed to enhance their skills on procurement procedures.”

The seminars, facilitated by JPLCV Center for Academic Values Foundation, Inc. and ALLSS Management Consultants, Inc., covered various topics on procurement and administrative affairs.

However, due to the lack of GPPB accreditation, the knowledge imparted may not fully align with the current legal standards and best practices.

“The procurement seminars attended by the BAC, TWG, and procurement personnel were not in accordance with GPPB Circular No. 07-2018, thereby rendering the validity of the training doubtful,” the COA report stated.

The lack of proper training, according to the COA, could compromise the integrity of Pavia’s procurement processes, potentially leading to inefficiency, mismanagement, or corruption.

The COA emphasized that compliance with training guidelines is essential to maintain the integrity of the procurement process and ensure that public funds are managed judiciously.

“Proper training is crucial for ensuring that procurement processes adhere to legal standards and best practices,” the COA report added.

Local government officials in Pavia have acknowledged these findings and are committed to ensuring that future procurement training meets GPPB standards.

“We recommended and the Local Chief Executive agreed to ensure that future procurement trainings or capacity development programs attended by the BAC, its Secretariat, TWG members, and employees from the procurement unit must either be organized by GPPB-TSO or with resource persons from the pool of GPPB recognized trainers,” the COA report noted.