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[av_heading heading=’Chicken project mess: Neglect of duty raps vs 4 city hall workers ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – Charges for neglect of duty may be filed against four city hall employees over alleged irregularities in the local government’s P3.4-million chicken dispersal project.
An ad hoc committee that investigated the Integrated Community Food Production Program (Livestock Component) found the employees administratively liable, according to City Administrator Hernando Galvez.
“Three employees were recommended charged with serious neglect of duty while another may be charged with simple neglect of duty,” said Galvez, who refused to name the workers.
The ad hoc committee has released its report to the City Legal Office. The report will be endorsed to Mayor Jose Espinosa III, Galvez said.
According to the city administrator, the heaviest punishment the employees could face will be dismissal from the service.
Accessory penalties include forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification to hold public office and cancellation of civil service eligibility, Galvez said.
The ad hoc committee also recommended that the General Services Office (GSO) “issue a notice of rejection of all deliveries for failure to inspect,” he said.
“There is no basis to ascertain whether or not the deliveries complied with the minimum specification of the contract and the Terms of Reference (TOR),” said Galvez.
In October 2017, the Office of the Internal Audit Services conducted an investigation and found out the following:
* The chicken ratio of 4:1 (four hens and one rooster) per recipient in the TOR was not strictly followed. Some beneficiaries received two or more roosters.
* Some chickens were sick on the day of distribution. There was noticeable weakness, sipon (runny nose), warts, bulging eyes, and limping. Some eventually died.
* The chickens were placed in open live crates during delivery and distribution.
* No certificates were issued by the city veterinarian attesting to the soundness of the chickens’ health prior to distribution.
* Recipients were not allowed to replace unhealthy or abnormal chickens given on distribution day.
* 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.
* The distribution to four districts have already been made but without completing the required 2,500 heads per district./PN
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