Ang Magiting - The Official Web Site of Rotary Club Makati North

Selling to Government

Business law was the theme of PP Chet Tan’s Fining Session. Most finees got by with a little help from their friends and no fines were actually levied. We were reminded, for example, that the Paris Club is a group of nations which lend money to other countries. Thus it is different from a Rotary Club, according to PP Chet.

Mike Clancy introduced Atty. Dionisio Tejero, who specializes in Labor Relations Law, Corporate and Business Law and Intellectual Property Law. Diony Tejero’s topic was “Update on Progress with the Law on Government Procurement.” The purpose of this law, said Diony, is to make selling to government transparent, competitive, standardized and publicly accountable. The other unpublished purpose is to reduce corruption. Most corruption occurs because of the lack of knowledge of the law by suppliers of goods and services to the government.

Procurement is about 20 percent of the government’s current budget of about PHP 3 trillion. But only a few suppliers get most of this because of the ignorance of the law shown by all except that fortunate few. Atty. Tejero said that a “summit” is being arranged to help would-be bidders to register what they can supply. If you are not on that list you’re disqualified. Nobody complains because nobody knows what the law is. A recent example is the declaration by the Philippine Ports Authority of a failure of the bidding for the 25-year concession for the upgrade and operation of the Manila North Harbor after only one company qualified to make an offer.