Senate assured new system in place

The Philippine National Police on Thursday assured senators that corrections in the procurement system for crime-fighting equipment were now underway following its purchase of secondhand helicopters in 2009.

PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo said a technical working group had been tasked with improving the structure of at least three committees involved in the purchase of costly equipment like helicopters.

“Changes now being made in the structure of the bids and awards committee (BAC) and a new procurement manual have been submitted for approval to the (National Police Commission),” Bacalzo told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday.

Bacalzo said the PNP was training logistics officers to be better versed in technical requirements for purchases.

One specific improvement would be the hiring of full-time committee members who will focus only on equipment procurement.

At present, members of the BAC, negotiation, and inspection and acceptance committees are taken from various units and selection is based on rank, according to Bacalzo.

Former PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa lamented that present procedures dated back to the time of the institution’s earlier incarnation, the Philippine Constabulary.

“We need to have a manual in which the duties and functions of the different committees in the procurement system are spelled out clearly and disseminated to those in negotiations, BAC and inspection and acceptance,” Verzosa told senators.