Question & AnswerQ&A (DPWH DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 8)
The main purpose of DPWH Department Order No. 8 is to require contractor applicants to submit a sworn statement as an additional document for prequalification stating that they have no relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree in the Department of Public Works and Highways who are involved in the prequalification, processing, approval of contracts, or project implementation, and that no official or employee has any direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the contractor's firm, ensuring that all bidders bid on equal footing.
The Prequalification, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) shall require the contractor applicants to submit the additional sworn statement as part of the prequalification documents.
The sworn statement should declare that the contractor has no relative, either by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree in the DPWH who is involved in prequalification, processing or approval of contracts, or project implementation, and that no DPWH official or employee has a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in the contractor's firm.
The additional sworn statement should be discussed during the pre-bid conference as one of the required documents to be included in the first envelope as per Clause IB 10.2(2) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 1594.
Non-compliance by any contractor in submitting the sworn statement shall be a ground for the rejection of his bid.
Non-observance by PBAC members of this additional document requirement shall be a ground for disciplinary action under existing rules and regulations.
Contractors who submit sworn statements that later turn out to contain misrepresentations shall face corresponding sanctions under the provisions of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 1594.
Yes, the DPWH Department Order No. 8 takes effect immediately upon issuance on January 10, 1991.
The sworn statement covers relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree.
Bidding on 'equal footing' means all contractors are subject to the same conditions and requirements to ensure fairness and transparency in the public bidding process, without favoritism or conflict of interest.