Press Release
February 6, 2009

WB considers release of controversial bid-rigging report to Senate

Washington, D.C. - Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero here on Thursday (Friday in Manila) met with ranking procurement officials of the World Bank to discuss procurement processes and the possible official release to the Senate of the organization's report on the alleged bid-rigging of road projects in the country.

"It was a productive and enlightening meeting," Escudero said in a statement. The senator is here on a private visit to attend the four-day 47th National Prayer Breakfast event.

The opposition senator said he met for an hour with Shaun Moss, the Regional Procurement Manager of the Central Operational Service Unit in the East Asia and Pacific Region; Ben Gericke, Senior Transport Engineer; and Senior Operations Officer Steve Charles Burgess at the World Bank headquarters.

The WB, he said, was considering the release of the report to the Senate, which is now investigating the blacklisting of three Filipino construction firms from the Bank's future projects.

Escudero, who is chair of the committee of constitutional amendments and revision on codes and laws, has scheduled for February 17 the first hearing on proposed amendments to the current government procurement law.

He said the officials told him that they will find out if the Bank's internal rules will allow the release of the official report to the Senate. As a matter of rule, the World Bank only officially deals with the country's Department of Finance.

"I will know by next week if this is possible," he said.

The senator also said he and the WB procurement officers exchanged notes on procurement processes, particularly on matters relating to foreign-funded projects.

"The WB officials said they will provide me a copy of their proposed amendments to our procurement code. We can use this as guidance from a third party looking in, considering that they have a presence all over the globe. They have valuable insights and experience to share with us," Escudero said.

He said the WB is in "full support" of the procurement reform bill, which he filed soon after he became senator in 2007. The bill aims to strengthen and improve safeguards in the government's procurement system.

Escudero is scheduled to return to Manila on February 9. #

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