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The procurement for a consultant on the government’s fuel marking program has been cancelled “due to unanticipated developments”
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The PPP Center Special Bids and Awards Committee said the cancellation is based on a request from the Department of Finance to terminate the process
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The consultancy work was supposed to determine the most appropriate or optimal PPP arrangement for the fuel marking program, with the current contract due to end in June 2026
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SICPA SA’s unsolicited proposal for a comprehensive operation & maintenance program for the fuel marking program is under negotiation
The procurement for a consultant to provide project preparation and transaction advisory services for the government’s fuel marking program has been cancelled due to unanticipated developments, according to the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP Center).
In a bid bulletin dated April 7, the PPP Center Special Bids and Awards Committee said it has determined that the cancellation of the procurement for the project “is warranted following the receipt of request from the Department of Finance (DOF) to terminate the process.”
No other explanation was provided in the bulletin, except that it is “due to unanticipated developments.”
In November 2025, the PPP Center issued a request for expression of interest for the fuel marking PPP project, which involves the continuation of the government’s current fuel marking program.
According to the project’s terms of reference, the contract for the current fuel marking program is expected to end in June 2026.
READ: PH fuel marking program generates P1T over 5 years
The consultancy work was supposed to determine the most appropriate or optimal PPP arrangement considering the concerns of all stakeholders, as well as pertinent rules and regulations.
The DOF intends to continue the implementation of the fuel marking program under a PPP modality, citing the need to ensure competitive pricing and utilization of the latest technologies and innovations for the project. Calls for interested consultants to submit their expressions of interest have been moved several times until March 20.
Marking for both imported and locally manufactured fuel — which started implementation in September 2019 — aims to curb oil smuggling and plug revenue losses arising from the illegal importation or misdeclaration of petroleum products.
The implementation of the program is among the key provisions of Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
The joint venture of Swiss-based SICPA SA and locally based SGS Philippines, Inc. won the contract to provide a fuel marking program for the Bureau of Customs.
SICPA SA also submitted an unsolicited proposal for a comprehensive operation & maintenance program with technological and operational upgrades and enhancements for the fuel marking program.
According to the PPP Center projects dashboard, the project has been endorsed to DOF after being deemed complete by the PPPC and is under negotiation.— Roumina Pablo
