Capitol to purchase P18-milion anti-rabies vaccines in livestreamed bidding

Local

THE provincial government of Cebu will bid out 10,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccines worth P18 million on Monday, August 11, making it the first procurement to be livestreamed under the new transparency policy.

Provincial Administrator Joseph Felix Mari “Ace” Durano said the anti-rabies purchase is the first major procurement to be undertaken under the administration of Governor Baricuatro since she assumed office.

He said the opening of bids is scheduled for August 11, and noted that 11 suppliers joined the pre-bidding conference.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro decided to push for the purchase after learning from hospital staff that their anti-rabies supply is nearly depleted.

“It started ganina because I asked the doctor if naa ba sila saktong supply sa previous (administration) and they said that they’re really running out of supplies,” she said.

The Capitol will distribute the vaccines proportionally based on the historical demand of each area, not equally across all 16 district hospitals.

Once delivered, the vials will be available for free to constituents.

The Capitol targets delivery before the end of August.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it can be prevented through timely vaccination after exposure.

The livestreamed bidding will be implemented under Executive Order No. 37, which Baricuatro signed on July 28 to mandate real-time broadcasts of all competitive procurement activities handled by the Capitol’s Bids and Awards Committees.

The provincial board approved the order on August 4.

Durano said livestreaming is already required under Republic Act 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act, but the executive order ensures active enforcement in Cebu.

The Public Information Office will manage technical implementation, while recordings of high-value procurements will be archived for at least five years.

He added that the measure aims to discourage overpricing, collusion, and manipulation in the bidding process, while building public trust in government transactions.

Durano said this in a post-interview during his two-day visit to the Camotes Islands with Baricuatro from August 8 to 9.

The trip included an inspection of the Ricardo L. Maningo Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, where Baricuatro ordered urgent repairs, solar-powered lighting installation, repainting, and roof leak fixes, along with replenishment of medicines.

She also visited schools in Poro and was dismayed by a dilapidated classroom and a non-operational canteen at Esperanza Elementary School.(MyTVCebu)