Daluz decries COA findings in fire extinguisher purchase

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III cried foul over a Commission on Audit observation questioning his signature in the purchase request for the 6,000 fire extinguishers delivered last January and distributed to the 80 barangays, public schools, police stations and other public offices.

Daluz said that COA has suspended the P10.8-million transaction after the state auditors observed that his signature as a requisitioner was included in the official Purchase Request when it should be the end user who is the Mayor.

His signature was also questioned in the recommending approval for the same transaction.

Daluz said that his signature just like other councilors’s signatures was always attached in the purchase request if his office happens to be the requisitioner.

It has been a practice since the administration of then mayor and now Representative Tomas Osmeña because the councilors were granted executive power.

“So nganung karon pa man nila gi-question? And besides, this is only a request so I signed it. It only shows that the request has my approval, dili pa sila ana, motestify ta na legitimate ni sya nga transaction. Anyway, in the end, it will always need the approval of the Mayor,” Daluz said.

He said his name clearly appeared in the Purchase Request as the requisitioner.

COA also questioned why the Notice of Award to the winning bidder was issued in December 1 and the post qualification was done the next day, December 2.

The post-qualification must be done prior to the issuance of the Notice of Award.

“The notice was prepared ahead because there was only one bidder, the BAC (Bids and Awards Committee) was already expecting to award it to our supplier. Originally, there were five other suppliers who expressed interest to participate in the bidding but they all backed out because they said they cannot afford it,” the councilor said.

Daluz facilitated the purchase because he was verbally instructed by Mayor Michael Rama last year to fast track the purchase since its budget is charged under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses which is revertible to the general fund every end of the year if not utilized.

He said that it was urgent to purchase the fire extinguishers immediately because if not, the funds would have been reverted to the general fund.

The fire extinguishers were purchased at P1,680 each. From P10.8 million, the city was able to purchase 6,000 extinguishers.

Daluz said that in 2009, the city government has coursed through the purchase of fire extinguishers to the Association of Barangay Councils which was given the same budget but were only able to purchase 3,000 units.

“Nakabarato man gani ang syudad, so what is the problem? We have also followed the proper procedures,” Daluz said.

Daluz said that he will submit his reply to COA within the week. He also want to resolve it immediately because the supplier ought to receive the city’s payment since it has been three months since the products were delivered. (FREEMAN)