Cebu mayor vetoes bid livestream ordinance

The local government of Cebu City announced on Tuesday that Mayor Michael Rama has vetoed the proposed ordinance to livestream the bidding processes of the Bids and Awards Committee.

Rama said the measure violates the Data Privacy Act of 2012, supersedes the implementing rules and regulations of the Government Procurement Reform Act, and compromises the general welfare clause provided under the Local Government Code.

He also stressed that the proposed ordinance would have ended up violating the bidders' right to privacy, as personal and sensitive pieces of information embedded in their technical, financial, and other related documents would be read out loud during the opening of their bids.

"The subject ordinance clearly runs counter and anathema to the explicit provisions as well as the spirit, intent, and purposes of the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Consequently, it is also prejudicial to the welfare of the bidders," Rama said.

To recall, South District City Councilor Rey Gealon proposed the ordinance dubbed as the "Live Streaming of the Bidding Process of the Bids and Awards Committee of the City of Cebu" which was passed by the City Council.

"I strongly believe that the 'general welfare clause' invoked by the good mayor to defeat the ordinance is the same clause I relied upon as author to uphold the primordial right of the people to know how the bidding process is undertaken towards the utilization of public funds," the councilor said.

"Having merely noted the mayor's veto during the regular session, this ordinance, whose noble intention is the pursuit of transparency and accountability, is killed," he added.

The vetoed ordinance covers all modes of procurement recognized under the Government Procurement Reform Act, including emergency procurement and other alternative modes. It also covers the procurement of goods, infrastructure projects, and even consulting services.