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BY GLENDA S. TAYONA
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January 26, 2018
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No proper inspection of chicken deliveries
ILOILO City – The supplier of the city government’s P3.5-million chicken dispersal project should not be paid for the deliveries it made in August and September last year, according to the ad hoc committee tasked to probe the irregularities in the project.
With no proper inspection made on the chickens, there was “no basis in ascertaining whether the deliveries were in compliance with the minimum requirements stipulated,” said Mayor Jose Espinosa III who approved the committee’s recommendations.
Foodwealth Agro-Vet Trading, the supplier, made four chicken deliveries last year – Aug. 3, 10 and 24 and Sept. 7.
The chicken dispersal project covered a total of 17,500 native fowls; 2,625 chickens have so far been delivered and distributed to the recipients – select beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The chicken dispersal was the livestock component of the Integrated Community Food Production Program of the city government funded by the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Foodwealth owner Gaspar Igona had warned he would seek legal action if he was not paid.
“I have a valid contract with the city government signed by the mayor,” said Igona during a separate investigation conducted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in October last year.
He appealed for due process.
“I delivered chickens that the city government accepted. Kon indi nila ako mabayadan, pakigbatuan ko na ‘ya,” Igona said.
The supplier insisted he followed the contract’s terms of reference such as delivering chickens weighing 300 grams.
“The city government had an inspector at the time of delivery. It would have rejected the chickens had it found them weighing less than what was required,” said Igona.
The ad hoc committee, however, said there was no proper inspection. Its probe was triggered by Councilor Plaridel Nava’s exposé that the chickens delivered were underweight and not 300 grams as stated in the contract.
The committee recommended that the supplier correct the deficiencies of its previous deliveries and only then would it be paid.
It also recommended that four city hall department heads be held liable for neglect of duty – City Veterinarian Tomas Forteza Jr., City Agriculturist Romulo Pangantihon Jr., General Services Office chief Joren Sartorio, and Supply Officer Eduardo Vargas.
Pangantihon and Sartorio told Panay News yesterday they were ready to answer the show cause order issued by Espinosa.
“Atubangon ko lang kon ano man ang consequence kay te parte ina sang risk sa pagserbisyo ta,” said Pangantihon.
Vargas, on the other hand, was dismayed by the ad hoc committee report.
“Masakit sa akon kay 35 years na ‘ko sa gobyerno kag retirable pa ko subong. First time ‘ni nga natabo sa akon,” he said.
Vargas denied being remiss in his duty.
“Ginhimo ko man ang tanan according sa procedure,” he said.
According to the ad hoc committee, Vargas failed to individually weigh the delivered chickens to determine if they indeed weighed 300 grams, or check if they were completely immunized, properly quarantined and certified as healthy by the City Veterinarian Office prior their distribution to recipients.
As supply officer and member of the Inspection Team, Vargas’ “wilful and intentional failure and indifference to give proper attention to a very important government project and to perform the duties and functions reposed on (him)…constitutes serious/gross neglect of duty,” according to the committee./PN
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