Procurement for food packs goes through transparent, competitive process – DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) procurement of family food packs (FFPs) undergoes a transparent and competitive bidding process, with the actual cost of the contents of each FFP being less than P800.

“P797.80 lang ang halaga ng bawat kahon ng food packs na nasa post based on the winning bid. Kaya mali ang pinalalabas sa isang social media post na Php1,503.84 ang halaga ng bawat family food pack ng DSWD,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in response to a social media post presenting misleading information on FFP costing.

Dumlao said the viral post is misleading as the supposed document posted was actually a bidding document indicating the maximum amount of the procurement based on a market scoping that includes procurement specifications, packaging, logistics, delivery, and other factors related to the project.

“We would like to clarify that the amount of procurement of FFPs differs per bid. The total amount spent for FFPs depends on the winning bid. The bid document which was posted is a public document and is the maximum bid amount of the package of items,” Dumlao, who also serves as DSWD spokesperson, said.

Dumlao pointed out that the DSWD adopted a simplified approach in procuring food packs to ensure the availability and fast delivery food aid to families affected by disasters.

“Dumadaan sa ‘competitive bidding’ ng DSWD ang lahat ng procurement ng family food packs kung saan ang may pinakamababang price bid offer at compliant sa mga specifications at iba pang requirements ang idinideklarang bid winner. Sa naturang bidding, ang 2 Go Global International Corporation ang may pinakamurang presyo na P797.80 bawat kahon ng FFP,” she added.

Under the procurement process, she said the DSWD Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) evaluates the bids to determine the supplier that meets the required technical, financial, and legal conditions and offers the lowest calculated and responsive bid based on government procurement rules.

The DSWD’s FFPs provide immediate food support to affected families. Each pack is composed of six kilograms of rice; four cans of tuna flakes; four cans of corned beef; two cans of sardines; five sachets of instant coffee and five sachets of choco malt drink.

The composition of the FFPs was endorsed to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and is in accordance with the Recommended Energy and Nutrient Intake (RENI) formulated by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

The contents of every food pack are intended to provide a combination of staple food, protein sources, energy, and essential nutrients.

However, the FFPs are not intended to replace a family’s regular food supply for an extended period. The food assistance is intended to help sustain a family of five for two to three days.

The DSWD spokesperson is appealing to the public to direct their inquiries or complaints to the Department and to be more discerning of misleading information being posted in social media.

“Hindi po nakatutulong ang mga ganitong misinformation, lalo’t higit sa panahon na ang atensiyon dapat ay nakatuon sa mabilisang pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng mga nasalanta. Nag-aappeal din kami sa mga concerned citizens na siguraduhin ang inyong dokumento ay accurate sa inyong pagshare. Inuulit din po namin na ang DSWD ay bukas sa lahat ng komento at reklamo,” Dumlao said.