QUEZON CITY – Officials from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) are facing graft and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly breaching an agreement with displaced vendors from the UP Shopping Center, which was destroyed by fire in 2018. The complaints, filed by affected vendors, accuse the officials of awarding contracts for the DiliMall and Gyud Food Hub—temporary food and retail hubs in the UP Technohub area—to private firms without transparent public bidding, sidelining the original stall owners.
The vendors claim UPD administrators executed a Master Lease Agreement (MLA) in January 2023 with CBMS (for DiliMall) and JoseBizCo Inc. (for Gyud Food Hub) despite prior commitments to prioritize the fire victims in lease negotiations and space allocation. This, they argue, violated anti-graft laws by favoring private entities and excluding direct vendor participation, causing undue injury and lost livelihoods.
Key Allegations
- No Competitive Bidding: Contracts awarded directly, bypassing transparency requirements.
- Broken Promises: Vendors displaced since the 2018 fire were assured priority in new hubs but were excluded.
- Projects Involved: DiliMall (retail) and Gyud Food Hub (food stalls) at UP Technohub, meant as interim solutions for affected traders.
The complaints target UPD officials responsible for procurement and leasing decisions, though specific names were not detailed in initial reports. Vendors seek accountability and restoration of their rights to operate in the hubs.
UPD has yet to issue an official response, but the case echoes broader scrutiny on public institution contracts amid calls for fairness in post-disaster recovery.
For the displaced vendors—many small entrepreneurs who lost everything in the blaze—this fight isn’t just legal—it’s survival, a push to reclaim spaces promised in their hour of need.
Case Snapshot:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Complainants | Displaced UP Shopping Center vendors |
| Accused | UPD officials (procurement/leasing) |
| Projects | DiliMall (CBMS); Gyud Food Hub (JoseBizCo Inc.) |
| Main Violation | No public bidding; breach of vendor agreement |
| Filing Venue | Office of the Ombudsman |