No bidders yet for VSMMC cancer center
Dr. Antonio Roque Paradela (center) of the VSMMC Bids and Awards Committee discusses with other members of the committee their next move after the failure of bidding for the construction of the cancer center. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) yesterday declared a failure of bidding for the construction of the P476-million cancer center.
Dr. Antonio Roque Paradela, BAC chairman, said they did not receive letters from the supposed bidders except for the two contractors, Young Builders Cebu and the C.C. Barcelona, which informed them of their intention to waive because of time constraints.
A representative from Young Builders Cebu who refused to be named said they need 35 days more to finish the design.
“We started the design last week,” he told Cebu Daily News.
Paradela said that although these two contractors waived, they can still participate in the next bidding.
Paradela said that with the start of the poll ban on March 25, bidding on government projects is already prohibited, especially in the case of VSMMC cancer center, whose budget comes from the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Paradela said they will ask the Commission on Elections to exempt them from the poll ban so they can reschedule their next bidding even if it falls within the election ban.
“Our lawyer is already preparing for that (exemption),” he told reporters yesterday.
He also admitted the failure of bidding might further delay the project because they have to start all over again.
The 10-story building, which includes two basements, will be the first government cancer center facility in Cebu.
The building will rise in the parking area at the back of VSMMC.
Paradela said the P400-million budget for the building comes from the GAA, while the balance of P76 million will be shouldered by the hospital.
Before he declared failure of bidding yesterday, Paradela said, “This is something that we need to have. This is a very important institution.”
Paradela said cancer is in the top 3 causes of morbidity in the country.
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