BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has issued a public apology following a food spoilage incident during the Bacolod City Government Year-End Assessment and Employees’ Day held on December 19.
In a statement signed by BCGEU president Erry Lagtapon, the union acknowledged responsibility for the incident and expressed regret to the city government employees affected.
The BCGEU said the incident fell short of the standard of service that employees deserve and overshadowed the efforts of the BCGEU Board of Directors, which worked extensively to ensure the success of the event.
To address the issue, the union immediately convened an emergency board meeting the following day, which was attended by the suppliers of the packed meals served during the activity.
An internal investigation was launched, during which suppliers cited extreme ambient temperatures during food transport as the probable cause of the spoilage, according to their statements.
The BCGEU stressed that it will strictly enforce provisions in its Contract of Service requiring that payments to suppliers be released only upon full delivery of food packs in good condition. Any spoilage attributable to the supplier must be replaced immediately during the event or deducted from the total contract price.
As of press time, the union said no payment has been released to the suppliers pending the completion of a thorough assessment. It is currently awaiting official written reports from various city departments and offices detailing the condition of the food served to their personnel.
While acknowledging that the process may take time, the BCGEU emphasized the need for due diligence to safeguard public funds.
The union also assured employees that corrective measures are being put in place to prevent a similar incident in future activities. Among the options being considered is the discontinuation of packed meals during events.
BCGEU added that it is closely coordinating with the Office of the City Mayor to revise event organization protocols to ensure improved service and quality for city government employees.
“We sincerely apologize to our fellow employees in the City Government of Bacolod,” Lagtapon said, reiterating the union’s commitment to accountability and higher standards in future activities./PN
