Service provider Diar’s replaces JSA, Citybest
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services (OVCFAS) replaced Joseph Server & Associates (JSA), Inc. and Citybest Janitorial & General Services with Diar’s Assistance Inc. as the grounds maintenance and housekeeping services provider after deciding not to renew the formers’ respective year-long contracts after its expiration.
VCFAS Deodoro Abiog II said Diar’s, which started working today, April 10, had the “best bid” among nine service providers that were involved in the bidding process in March.
“On the total price mababa si Diar’s, for the supplies, reasonable ang kanilang supplies na gagamitin, they satisfied all the terms of reference, everybody (companies involved in bid) naman okay lang, but the best bid is that of Diar’s,” Abiog said.
Diar’s experience and performance as the service provider of La Salle Schools such as De La Salle University – Manila, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, and De La Salle Santiago Zobel was one of the advantages the provider had over other bidders, which also included previous service provider Citybest.
Citybest and JSA’s performance
The OVCFAS decided not to renew the one-year contract of Citybest and JSA, who were hired on April 9, 2017, due to the standards set by the administration that weren’t met by the providers.
The OVCFAS also noted the sentiments of the student body represented by the University Student Council, college student councils, faculty, and staff who were concerned about the cleanliness in the campus, which was not fully maintained by the service providers.
Abiog also said that there was an issue of having a “demarcation line” between the two providers as JSA was hired for grounds maintenance, while Citybest was hired for housekeeping.
“Sometimes there is an issue of the demarcation line if the dirt or the garbage is in the building, sometimes it is not being addressed because those are leaves and this should be addressed by this other provider. There are sometimes bottles or other things that are on the ground that sometimes are not being addressed,” Abiog said.
After some issues encountered with the previous service providers, Abiog furthered that he has positive expectations with the performance of Diar’s considering their experience with other La Salle schools. Abiog also noted that the university will save more with Diar’s.
In 2017, the school administration ended its 18-year long contract with Almer Manpower Corporation and hired Citybest and JSA, the first time in years that the University hired two manpower services at the same time.
The question on whether the University spent more than the previous years on maintenance remains unanswered as Abiog explained that many factors such as manpower and supplies affect the cost of providers to see which arrangement results in better costing.
