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The Philippine Ports Authority denied there was an overprice in its P168.68-million 2020 Body-Worn Camera Project
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The project was awarded through open competitive bidding under Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, according to PPA general manager Jay Santiago
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The PPA said the contract covers not just 164 body-worn cameras, but a full surveillance and evidence-management system to be deployed across 22 Port Management Offices nationwide
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Senator Raffy Tulfo had claimed the unit cost of P879,000 is way more than the P135,000 price of similar cameras used by the Philippine National Police
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) denied there was an overprice in its P168.68-million 2020 Body-Worn Camera Project.
During a recent Department of Transportation (DOTr) budget hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned the cost of the contract covering 191 body-worn cameras awarded by PPA, a DOTr-attached agency, to Boston Home Inc.
At P879,000 per unit, Tulfo noted the price far exceeds the P135,000 cost of similar equipment used by the Philippine National Police. He described the deal as “scandalous and immoral overpricing”, and called for an investigation into what he labeled an “anomalous” contract. He argued comparable devices are available online for as low as P6,000.
He also flagged concerns about the supplier’s financial capacity, citing its paid-up capital of only P10 million and its office location in “a small apartment.”
The senator urged acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez to thoroughly investigate the matter.
PPA general manager Jay Santiago, however, said the project, launched in 2020, underwent a transparent and competitive bidding process in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act). He noted the procurement followed standard procedures and, consistent with other PPA contracts, did not involve any advance payments.
In a statement, PPA said the contract does not solely cover the procurement of 164 body-worn cameras, but encompasses a comprehensive surveillance and evidence-management system designed for deployment across 22 Port Management Offices nationwide. The project’s terms of reference include:
- 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
“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,” said Santiago.
He noted camera supplier Boston Home met all statutory and documentary requirements and had no adverse or blacklisting orders at the time of post-qualification.
The supplier had previously completed a P217-million surveillance project for the Philippine Coast Guard, which qualified as its Single Largest Completed Contract, a key criterion under government procurement rules, added Santiago.
The camera project underwent open public bidding, with notices posted on PhilGEPS and major newspapers, pre-bid conferences, bid opening, and full documentation provided throughout, he said.
Santiago also addressed a separate issue involving mobile x-ray machines procured in 2019, clarifying that the project was cancelled after inspection revealed unsatisfactory performance. “I personally ordered the cancellation after inspecting the delivery myself and finding it unsatisfactory,” he said.
PPA reaffirmed all its procurement activities are carried out in accordance with laws and guided by the principles of accountability, transparency, and responsible use of public resources.
