The local government unit (LGU) of the Queen City of the South, Cebu City headed by Mayor Michael Rama has ordered city officials to halt purchasing or accepting heavy equipment and vehicles that are made in China because of its low qualities and it “deteriorates faster.”
Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) chairwoman Dr. Ester Concha and the City’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for goods and services already informed all the 21 department heads of the Cebu City Hall on the matter.
Concha said, “During the Bids and Awards Committee -Goods and Services meeting on February 22, 2016, the committee has resolved not to purchase and/or accept heavy equipment vehicles that are made in China.”
According to her, Cebu City’s purchases of China-made equipment backfired with negative feedback having a sub-standard and low qualities in parts and performance.
“It was intimated to us that based on our prior experience China-made heavy equipment easily breaks, need high-cost of maintenance, deteriorates faster resulting in damage to the government. What we want are durable products that will serve much in the level of efficacy and effectiveness in public service,” she said.
According to the City Government of Cebu, the BAC will include a provision in the terms of reference, the next time it conducts a bidding for vehicles and heavy equipment, that products made in China will no longer be accepted regardless if its 10 to 20 percent cheaper than other brands.