The Department of Justice–Office for Competition (DOJ-OFC) intensified its push for transparency and accountability in government procurement, convening a two-day online workshop to help government personnel and procurement practitioners detect bid rigging and other anti-competitive practices.
Dubbed “Maging Mapanuri sa Bidding: Orientation-Workshop on How to Spot Bidding-Biddingan at Pershing Sabwatan,” the program gathered participants from various government agencies to sharpen their ability to identify red flags in procurement processes and uphold fair competition in public contracts.
The workshop focused on bid rigging and “pershing sabwatan,” or coordinated bidding and price-fixing schemes that distort competitive procurement, inflate project costs, and erode public trust.
Leading the session, DOJ Undersecretary Atty. Ian Dato stressed the need to protect public funds and preserve integrity in government transactions.
“Every peso of public funds represents the trust and hard work of the Filipino people. We cannot allow corruption, collusion, and unfair practices to undermine programs and projects intended to serve our communities,” Dato said.
He added that bid rigging is not only a violation of the law but also a direct betrayal of public trust, with ordinary citizens ultimately paying the price.
Dato added that the initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen governance systems by equipping procurement stakeholders with the tools to detect risks, prevent collusion, and uphold ethical standards in public bidding.
The workshop forms part of the DOJ-OFC’s continuing campaign to promote integrity, accountability, and fair competition in government procurement.
