The City Government of Bislig is taking out a P193,453,000 loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines to buy brand-new heavy equipment. The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the plan in two steps this year, and the documents spell out exactly what the city intends to buy.
Two council votes
On July 21, 2026, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026-595, authorizing Mayor Florencio C. Garay to apply for the loan. It was sponsored by Councilors Victor B. Alvar, Jr., Romeo F. Cacayan, Reynaldo V. Dominguez and Pedrito R. Sulapas, with Vice Mayor Conrad C. Cejoco.
On August 18, 2026, the council followed up with Resolution No. 2026-681, authorizing the mayor to enter into and sign a Loan Term Agreement with LandBank's Bislig Branch for the same amount. That approval is "subject to the existing rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA), and the new Procurement Law (RA 12009)."
The legal basis cited is Section 297 of the Local Government Code, which lets local governments borrow from government or domestic banks to finance projects.
What the money buys
Resolution No. 2026-595 lists 11 units:
- Tractor dozer (1 unit): P29,670,000
- Wheel loader (1 unit): P24,851,500
- Vibratory roller compactor (2 units): P21,457,000
- Motor grader (1 unit): P20,700,000
- Wheel-type excavator (1 unit): P7,825,000
- 10-wheeler dump truck, at least 12 cubic meters (4 units at P18,457,500 each): P73,830,000
- Transit mixer, at least 4 cubic meters (1 unit): P5,117,500
The resolution states a grand total of P193,453,000. However, the seven line items as printed add up to P183,451,000, about P10 million less. The resolution does not explain the difference. It may be a typing error in one of the line items or the total, and Bislig Today has not been able to confirm which figure is correct.
Why the council wants better machines
The resolution is blunt about past purchases. It says earlier heavy equipment bought "based strictly on the lowest bid without stringent qualitative standards" resulted in "substandard units characterized by frequent breakdowns, high maintenance costs, and prolonged operational downtime."
The council says it wants to shift procurement from "lowest cost" to "total cost ownership," so that units are durable and backed by local dealer support. To keep out what it calls "fly-by-night suppliers," the city requires bidders to have:
- an established market track record
- direct manufacturer backing
- international quality certification
- a verified physical presence and spare parts inventory in the Philippines
The council says the equipment will help speed up local infrastructure projects, improve disaster preparedness and response, and deliver basic services.
What residents should watch
A loan of this size is repaid from city funds over several years, so its terms matter. The published resolutions do not state the interest rate, repayment period or collateral. Those details would appear in the signed Loan Term Agreement.
The purchases will still go through public bidding under the new Government Procurement Act. Bids and awards are posted on the city's Bids and Awards page at bislig.gov.ph, where residents can follow the procurement once it is advertised.
Sources: City of Bislig, Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution Nos. 2026-595 (July 21, 2026) and 2026-681 (August 18, 2026), published on the city's Resolutions 2026 page at bislig.gov.ph.