SC opens bidding for construction of Manila Hall of Justice

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has already opened the bidding for the architectural and engineering design for a state-of-the-art facility for the Manila Hall of Justice.

In its announcement, the high court has already invited bidders for consultancy services for the detailed design of the building which will be constructed at the old Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building located at the corner of Gat. Antonio Villegas and Concepcion Aguila streets in Manila.

The high court has allocated P49,711,204 for the design, a portion of the P1.865 billion budget for the construction of the long overdue hall of justice.

The services would cover five phases of the project: pre-design, design, procurement, construction support and post-construction support. The winning bidder would also be in charge of the technical, social and environmental, and management aspects.

The pre-design and design phases would cover nine months.

The high court said the bidding will be conducted through open competitive procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as provided under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act.

“Bidding is open to all interested bidders, whether local or foreign, subject to the conditions for eligibility provided in the IRR (Implementing Rules and Regulations) of R.A. 9184,” the notice signed by the high court’s Bid and Awards Committee chair and Deputy Court Administrator Thelma Bahia

Then, it will be evaluated using the quality-cost based evaluation, the notice stated.

Bidders have until 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 to submit their bids to the high court.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has pushed through with its construction after meeting with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

The hall of justice will house 120 Regional and Metropolitan Trial Courts.

The construction of the Manila Hall of Justice has been planned since early 2000 but was shelved for lack of budget. In 2010, the high court requested for a P3-billion budget from the Department of Budget and Management but was turned down.

Then, in 2012, the groundbreaking of the project was held. The budget for the construction was taken from the high court’s savings-the fund which Congress is insisting should be under the Bureau of Treasury.

Presently, Manila trial courts are dispersed in the Manila City Hall, in the old building of the Office of the Ombudsman, the old and condemned structure of the GSIS, the former Masagana mall in UN Avenue and in Binondo.

The proposed Manila HOJ would showcase a model courthouse equipped with modern communication facilities. LCD screens would be put outside each courtroom so that lawyers, litigants and the rest of the public can view court activities and announcements.

The modern hall of justice would also be environment-friendly with paperless conference rooms also equipped for video-conferencing, as well as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, intercom and Internet wireless hotspots installed in strategic areas.

It would also have a centralized filing and docketing system to vastly improve the administration of justice.

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