CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has been requested by the Cebu City Council to look into the possibility that the administration of Mayor Michael Rama purchased vehicle spare parts that are imitations of original brands.
In yesterday’s regular session of the City Council, Councilor Alvin Arcilla narrated his personal experience last December 23 when the brand new tires installed to his City Hall-issued vehicle, which is about over one month old, exploded.
Arcilla said the tires were supplied to his issued vehicle by the personnel of the City Hall’s maintenance section under the General Service Office (GSO).
According to Arcilla, an investigation should be conducted on the incident to determine the quality of the tires purchased by City Hall for the city’s vehicles.
Arcilla, who is also an engineer by profession, believes that the city personnel may not have the technical expertise and knowledge to conduct a comprehensive inspection on the purchased items that is why they would ask the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The DTI has been asked to conduct a comprehensive inspection and investigation on the quality of the tires, similar to the ones issued to Arcilla’s service vehicle that exploded.
Councilor Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao also narrated that there was also a time that his issued vehicle also experienced similar trouble although it did not involved tires.
The City Council requested the General Service Office (GSO) to shed light on the current condition and quality of the existing stocks of tires and other vehicle parts of City Hall.
Mayor Michael Rama said he is not afraid if the DTI or COA personnel would conduct investigation about it. “They can investigate all purchases made by the city,†he said. — (FREEMAN)