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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, October 5, 2017
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ILOILO City – The terms of reference (TOR) of the city government’s P3.4-million chicken dispersal project were not followed, results of the Office of the Internal Audit Services’ (OIAS) investigation showed.
The OIAS was tasked to probe alleged irregularities in the project under the city government’s Integrated Community Food Production Program. OIAS head Atty. Mary Joan Montaño released the results yesterday.
The weight of the chickens that were distributed varied and most of them were indeed below 300 grams as previously suspected, she discovered.
Under the TOR, the chickens must not be less than 300 grams.
Montaño also found out that the recipients – beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program – were not informed of the exact weight of the chickens given them.
But aside from supplier Foodwealth Agro-Vet Trading, city officials and offices in charge of the project also had lapses, the probe showed.
Citing Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 92-386, Montaño said there should have been proper inspection of the chickens before their turnover to the beneficiaries.
The inspection team and/or the General Services Office (GSO) could have rejected outright the chickens if the TOR were not met, she stressed.
Montaño’s other observations were as follows:
- the TOR chicken ratio of 4:1 (four hens and one rooster) per recipient was not strictly followed; some beneficiaries received two or more roosters
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some chickens were sick on the day of distribution; there was noticeable weakness, sipon (runny nose), warts, bulging eyes, and limping; some eventually died
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the chickens were placed in open live crates during delivery and distribution
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no certificates were issued by the city veterinarian attesting to the soundness of the chickens’ health prior to distribution; Montaño found out that Dr. Tomas Forteza, the city veterinarian, was only tasked by City Agriculturist Romulo Pangantihon to technically assist the monitoring team of the City Agriculture Office without necessary coordinating or consulting on the other specifications of the project.
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recipients were not allowed to replace unhealthy or abnormal chickens given on distribution day
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the purchase order specifically stated that the place of delivery shall be the GSO, which was not in harmony with the TOR which stated that the place of delivery shall be the designated distribution center per district in coordination with the City Agriculture Office
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distribution to four districts have already been made but without completing the required 2,5000 heads per district
According to Montaño, the chickens must be properly vaccinated, too, prior to distribution.
“Though it is the primary responsibility of the supplier to show proof that the delivered items are fully vaccinated, the city government through its proper officials / city veterinarian / representative shall see to it that the supplier complies with what is required,” she stressed.
Quarantine procedures should also be properly followed, added Montaño.
Unhealthy or abnormal chickens must be rejected outright, she said, and for this a certification from the City Veterinary Office is necessary.
Montaño also insisted that the timeline for chicken dispersal must be strictly followed – delivery for each of the city’s seven districts should be completed within 45 days to “perfect” the 315 days of distributed as stated in the TOR.
REMEDIES
Montaño suggested remedies as provided in Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) which included the following:
- forfeiture of the performance bond should it be established that the supplier has been remiss in the performance of its obligations under the contract with the city government
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civil liability of supplier in case of conviction
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liquidated damage in case of breach of contract
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rescission of contract if the liquidated damage reaches 10 percent of the contract price
Should the city government decide to proceed with the contract, Montaño said, reparation may still be done pending the final determination of the inspection team that indeed the supplier has complied with the TOR conditions.
Montaño also said progress billing will not be honored pending the acceptance report from the GSO.
Aside from discovering irregularities, Montaño also noted things that put to question the wisdom of the chicken dispersal project in an urban center like Iloilo City. These were the following.
- sanitation of surroundings were not appropriate for breeding chicken (ex. the place is full of garbage)
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some beneficiaries received two sets of five chickens
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most of the beneficiaries were not competent and knowledgeable in breeding chickens
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some of the beneficiaries transported the chickens to their provinces or to relatives which could properly raise the fowls, mainly due to the lack of space and financial insufficiency
Acting Mayor Jose Espinosa III said he would forward the result of Montaño’s investigation to the City Legal Office.
“I will base my decision on the recommendations of the City Legal Office,” said Espinosa./PN
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