According to a topnotch Mapua engineer, the Pasig City P9.6-billion City Hall is “anomalous and corrupt.”

Engineer Selwyn Lao, president of Wing-An Construction and Development Corporation, said, “I have documents. I computed it at just P3.2 billion. Besides, the original tender by MTD Berhad of Malaysia was an unsolicited proposal. Therefore, it should have been subject to a Swiss challenge. But instead, they tendered the bidding, giving participants only 45 days to make a Design and Build offer. None of the contractors could surely meet the requirements. Then only MTD Berhad won.”

The choice of MTD Bernad of Malaysia to build the Pasig City Hall did not go through the proper bidding process. The original tender by MTD Berhad was an unsolicited proposal.

An unsolicited proposal (USP) is a project proposal submitted by a private entity to a government or organization without being specifically requested. It’s a procured approach where a private proponent initiates a project idea, often a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), rather than responding to a formal bidding process. These proposals can offer innovative solutions and address unmet needs, but the government needs to manage them carefully to ensure fair competition, transparency, and value for money.

USPs are submitted without a formal request or bidding process.

According to the World Bank, if not managed carefully, USPs can lead to higher costs, less transparency, and potential corruption.

The original tender by MTD Berhad of an unsolicited proposal was not subjected to a Swiss challenge because Pasig City officials gave the participants only 45 days to make a Design and Build offer. The time frame for a design and build was too short to be able to comply. Normally, the time frame should be six months, not 45 days. That is why MTD Berhad of Malaysia captured the contract.

A Swiss challenge is a form of public procurement operated in some jurisdictions that requires a public project or services to be provided to the government to publish the bid and invite third parties to match or better it.

The Swiss challenge system, like the bonus system, further allows third parties to make offers (challenges) for a project during a designated period with the simple objective of discouraging frivolous projects and avoiding exaggerated project development costs.

I find Vico Sotto a mediocre leader, not one who is overrated by the media. His city government has a misplaced priority.

Pasigueños are asking Mayor Vico Sotto: Which is better? A beautiful building or a world-class graduate?

A world-class graduate has the potential to contribute to society, innovate, and solve complex problems.

Graduates are the future workforce and leaders of a society. Their skills, knowledge, and ability to innovate are crucial for economic growth, technological advancement, and social programs.

World-class graduates are equipped to tackle complex challenges in various fields, from healthcare and climate change to social justice and economic inequality.

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