PPA reiterates transparency and compliance in the procurement of its Body-Worn Camera Project, stating that it followed competitive bidding procedures and includes full surveillance infrastructure for its ports nationwide.
09 OCTOBER 2025 — The ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ clarifies the scope and legality of its 2020 Body-Worn Camera (Phase I and II) project amid circulating claims that the ₱168.68 million contract is overpriced and awarded to a supplier with alleged prior deficiencies. The agency emphasizes that all projects of PPA undergo transparent and competitive bidding processes in full compliance with Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“Ito pong procurement na ito dumaan po ito sa regular na proseso at gaya ng ibang procurement ng PPA, hindi po tayo nagbabayad ng advance payment. The unit cost cannot be computed by dividing the contract price by the mere number of cameras alone. This includes nationwide connectivity, backend servers, software, training, and system integration.â€, said General Manager Jay Santiago
ððŽðƒð˜-ð–ðŽð‘ð ð‚ð€ðŒð„ð‘ð€ð’: ð€Ìýð…ð®ð¥ð¥ ð’ð®ð«ð¯ðžð¢ð¥ð¥ðšð§ðœðž ð’ð²ð¬ððžð¦, ðð¨ð ð‰ð®ð¬ð ðƒðžð¯ð¢ðœðžð¬
Contrary to claims that the ₱168.68 million project covers only 164 cameras, the PPA clarifies that the amount includes the entire surveillance and evidence-management ecosystem for deployment across 22 Port Management Offices (PMOs) nationwide and not just camera units.
On the approved Terms of Reference (TOR), the project scope includes:
•164 body-worn cameras with live streaming, evidence-management, and facial-recognition capabilities
•Encrypted software licenses for live streaming and evidence storage
•Docking and charging stations, RFID systems, and 4 TB data servers
•Dedicated 50 Mbps fiber line, satellite communications, and a 24-month satellite subscription
•Installation, nationwide training, and three-year after-sales support
PPA stresses that the project is a complete digital surveillance infrastructure, not a simple camera purchase.
ðŽð ð“ð‡ð„ ðð‘ðˆð‚ð„ ðŽð… ð„ðð”ðˆððŒð„ðð“
After careful evaluation and post-qualification, Boston Home, Inc. was declared the Single Calculated and Responsive Bidder with a bid of ₱168,680,000 which is below the Approved Budget for the Contract (₱170 million). The PPA’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) confirms that all costs are evaluated against prevailing market prices and verified as reasonable. “All documents, including the Bid Evaluation Report and Post-Qualification Report are reviewed and approved by competent authorities in accordance with R.A. 9184â€, emphasized by GM Santiago.
ðŽð ð“ð‡ð„ ð€ðð€ð‘ð“ðŒð„ðð“ ðˆð’ð’ð”ð„ ð€ððƒ ðð€ðˆðƒ-ð”ð ð‚ð€ððˆð“ð€ð‹ ðŽð… ð“ð‡ð„ ð’ð”ððð‹ðˆð„ð‘
PPA explains that Boston Home,ÌýInc. fully satisfied all eligibility requirements during post-qualification. The supplier’s legal, technical, and financial documents, including certifications from the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) confirming it is not blacklisted by any government entity during the time of procurement in 2020.
Furthermore, Boston Home, Inc. successfully previously completed a ₱217-million similar project for the Philippine Coast Guard, which serves as its Single Largest Completed Contract (SLCC), a key eligibility requirement under the procurement law. “At the time of post-qualification, there were no adverse records or blacklisting orders against Boston Home, Inc. The company met all statutory and documentary requirementsâ€, GM Santiago added.
ðŽð ð“ð‡ð„ ðð‘ðŽð‚ð„ð’ð’ ðŽð… ððˆðƒðƒðˆðð†
PPA reaffirms that the 2020 Body-Worn Camera (Phase I and II) project followed an open and competitive bidding process, not negotiated procurement.
The process included:
1.Public posting of the Invitation to Bid through PhilGEPS and major newspapers
2.Pre-bid conference attended by interested suppliers
3.Submission and opening of bids under BAC oversight
4.Detailed post-qualification, verifying technical compliance and financial capacity
All stages are witnessed, documented, and compliant with procurement transparency and accountability standards.
ðŒðŽððˆð‹ð„ ð—-ð‘ð€ð˜ ðŒð€ð‚ð‡ðˆðð„ð’
In a related issue raised, PPA also clarified that the intended procurement of Mobile X-Ray Machines back in 2019 which is distinct from the body-worn camera project was terminated by GM Santiago himself and did not push through.
“Ako po mismo ang nagpakansela niyan dahil po ako mismo ang nag inspeksyon at di ako nasiyahan sa dineliver nilaâ€, GM Santiago said.
ð–ð„ð‹ð‚ðŽðŒð„ ð“ðŽ ð€ð”ðƒðˆð“ ðð˜ ðŽð•ð„ð‘ð’ðˆð†ð‡ð“ ð€ð†ð„ðð‚ðˆð„ð’
The Philippine Ports Authority assures the public that all its procurement activities strictly adheres to existing laws and upholds the principles of accountability, transparency, and prudent use of public funds.
PPA reiterates its commitment to improving port security, efficiency, and public safety through modern systems and technologies that undergo lawful, fair, and competitive processes.Ìý
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