The government should look into the contract on the vessel monitoring system (VMS) project being pushed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), according to a law firm representing a private complainant on the procurement.
In a letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who is also concurrent Agriculture Secretary, Ma. Neiseria Ailah Tuquero and Partners Law Office which represents the complainant in a graft case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against former and incumbent BFAR officials claimed the cost of the contract was “excessive.”
The contract is in connection with the Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II (PHILO Project Phase II) for the implementation of Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 266 series of 2020, which mandates all commercial fishing vessels to install satellite transceivers.
“We pray that the Honorable President consider the pendency of the criminal complaint and the consequences of implementing the PHILO Project Phase II…,” the law firm said in the letter.
FAO 266 remains suspended on orders of the President.
