A Quezon City official Saturday said the city government stands to save at least P28.352 million per year if security services at the city hall compound and the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) are handled by the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) instead of by a private security firm.

Comparing financial expenses, Councilor Jimmy Borres of the city’s third district said the cost of employing 155 DPOS personnel in the grounds will only reach P27,955,000 inclusive of the salaries for the guards amounting to P24,440,000.

With the same number of security personnel, the city government stands to spend P56,307,708 in one year for hiring a private security agency, Borres said.

Earlier, Business Permit Licensing Office (BPLO) chief Pacifico Maghacot Jr. said that there was a failure in the city’s biding for security services.

However, Councilor Voltaire Godofredo L. Liban III disputed Maghacot’s claim saying that five of the six bidders were disqualified by the city’s bids and awards committee (BAC) with Lockheed Detective and Watchman Agency, the current security firm handling security services for the city government being the lone qualified bidder.

He said that Maghacot is one of the members of the BAC which includes city administrator Paquito Ochoa.

“Nagtataka ako bakit naging sole qualified bidder ang isang kumpanya tulad ng Lockheed,’’ Liban said.

Quezon City treasurer Dr. Victor Endriga said the actual income of Lockheed based on records obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) amounted to P141,738,791.46 compared to its declared sales of P38,425,573.84 for 2007-2008.

For 2008-2009, Endriga said Lockheed based on SEC records issued on Nov. 10, 2009 submitted an actual income of P190,248,961.85 million compared to its declared sales of P48,469,874.41. “We have examined, reviewed and evaluated the foregoing accomplished data and assessment form concurs with the findings and recommended by the deputy,’’ Endriga said.

In the city government’s purchase request number 027309 dated June 2009 the project under security services category was divided into three packages with the first package amounting to P56,307,780; second package costing P21,070,008 and third package priced at P27,972,252 for a total of P105,350,040.

Justifying the hiring of DPOS personnel, Borres said that for the first year 155 security men will be hired on contract with the salary 145 security guards each amounting to P12,000 monthly and the ten security officers receiving P14,000 per month.

They will also be given additional one month salary and other benefits like productivity pays, Christmas bonuses and other legal perks with the savings being used for providing requirements for security personnel and additional security men when necessary.

Borres said the contract for private security firms is only for actual daily duties that excludes additional security services for special events and activities.

Package one of the security services contract includes ensuring public safety at the Quezon City Hall complex, QMC, Molave Youth Home, SB Underpass, new annex building and the new eight-story Twin Tower Building.