COA orders PhilPost to pay Filmetrics P47.2M for BDSF

The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) to pay Filmetrics Corporation P47.2 million for the delivery and setup of the Biometric Data Service Facility (BDSF) in 2010.

Filmetrics filed a petition for money claim against PhilPost due to non-payment of services related to the PID and UMID Card Biometrics Capture Projects amounting to P63,508,111.39.

The dispute originated from a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) signed in 2009 and an Implementing Memorandum of Agreement (IMOA) dated 2014 for the use of BDSF.

PhilPost's Board of Directors refused to release payments, citing that both agreements had expired by September 2022, while Filmetrics argued extensions were granted until January 7, 2023.

COA partially granted Filmetrics' petition, acknowledging services rendered but lacking a valid written agreement after the expiration dates; it awarded P47.269,916.10 for delivery and setup of BDSF while dismissing ancillary claims for attorney's fees and costs.