Vico Sotto vows 10% cut in cost of Pasig projects

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto. INQUIRER.net file photo / GABRIEL PABICO LALU

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto vowed a decrease of at least 10 percent in the cost of all city projects under his administration.

“As I said in this morning’s flag ceremony, I GUARANTEE that during my administration, THE PRICES OF ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS WILL DECREASE BY AT LEAST 10%,” Sotto wrote Monday in a Facebook post.

Sotto said the city would open the public bidding to anyone – “friend or foe” — and nongovernment organizations can observe the processes of the bids and awards committee (BAC).

“1. Bubuksan natin ng tunay ang public bidding. Kaibigan o kalaban, welcome mag-bid. Wala akong papanigan, walang lutuan. 2. NGO observer sa lahat ng mga proseso ng BAC,” Sotto wrote. “3. Independent Monitoring Team. 4. Technical Working Group na may mga eksperto sa bawat area.”

He also stressed: “Hindi ako tatanggap ng kickback.”

[I won’t accept kickbacks.]

Sotto said the funding the city would save would return to the citizens in the form of additional medicines and scholarships.

“Wala akong pakialam kung may magalit. Tatalikuran natin ang mga maling kalakaran at gagawin ang naaayon lamang sa batas,” he added.

[I don’t care if anybody gets angry. We will turn our backs on the wrong system and do only what’s allowed by law.]

/atm