“The provincial government of Cebu recognizes and upholds public office as a public trust,” Baricuatro said in Executive Order No. 37, signed on July 29. “Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people.”
She said the livestreaming requirement is meant to prevent overpricing and manipulation in the bidding process.
Noncompliance will be grounds for administrative sanctions in accordance with civil service laws, rules, and regulations.
Gov't bidding is now live—literally—in Cebu
Under the executive order, mandatory livestreaming covers pre-procurement conferences, pre-bid conferences, bid openings, and other meetings of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), to be overseen by the Public Information Office (PIO).
The PIO and all implementing offices shall use their official websites and social media platforms to share key procurement information with the public, subject to data privacy restrictions. Offices without an existing social media presence are mandated to establish and maintain one.
Implementing offices are also required to livestream the procurement process through their official websites and social media platforms whenever the relevant committee or body is mandated to convene.
Mainstream media coverage
The executive order allows mainstream media to cover and broadcast the proceedings live, provided they do not cause any disruption.
Implementing offices must publish the following details on their official websites and social media platforms: the project name, budget, and contract period; the name and official address of the winning bidder; the awarded contract amount; the dates of award and acceptance; and the name of the implementing office.
Publication of post-award information
For projects with a contract value of at least ₱50 million, post-award information must be published in a newspaper of general circulation, in addition to being posted on the official website and social media platforms.
Observers authorized by the BAC to monitor procurement proceedings shall be allowed to do so, provided they have no direct or indirect interest in the contract being bid out.
In compliance with the New Government Procurement Act (Republic Act No. 12009), the BAC shall video record all procurement-related conferences, including pre-procurement conferences, pre-bid conferences, bid openings, and other related meetings.
Mandatory video recording requirement
Mandatory video recording is required for the procurement of goods worth over ₱10 million, infrastructure projects valued at ₱20 million or more, and consulting services exceeding ₱5 million.
All recordings shall be stored for a minimum of five years and made available to the public upon request.
A consolidated report of blacklisted manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors, and consultants shall be posted quarterly on the official website and social media platforms of the implementing offices.
The report shall also include the number of times each entity or individual has been blacklisted, the violations committed, and the penalties imposed.
Exemption from mandatory disclosure
The Public Information Office (PIO) is also mandated to ensure the strict protection of all personal and sensitive information. Confidential information exempt from mandatory disclosure includes the following:
“Any ambiguity in this order or on the confidentiality of any document shall be resolved in favor of transparency in procurement and governance,” the EO stated.
“The provincial government is committed to ensuring fair, transparent and non-discriminatory competition for the procurement of goods, infrastructure projects and consulting services, champions the practice of good governance, public accountability and the efficient and effective management of public resources,” it added.
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