Davide sacks social welfare chief

CEBU, Philippines - Citing irregularities in the procurement of relief goods for Yolanda victims, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has relieved Evelyn Senajon as acting chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development and designated provincial administrator Mark Tolentino as its concurrent head.

Davide said Senajon deviated from the proper procedures in the procurement of relief goods for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in northern Cebu.

“She deviated from procedure. For instance, sa sardines… boxes of sardines intended for relief, nidiritso og tawag og supplier. Part man unta siya sa (bids and awards committee),” Davide said.

Senajon denied committing irregularities in the procurement of sardines. She even bragged to have tried to convince the supplier to lower the price from P13.50 each to P13, but was allegedly turned down by the supplier.

According to Senajon, she asked Dumanjug Vice Mayor Efren Gica, who happened to be a friend of the supplier, to help her convince the supplier to lower the price.

“Katong tawo nga iyang giingon, pareha ra nga tawo nga akong gikaistorya. Akong giingnan si Vice nga pwede ba ma-lower pa gyod, wa man gyod kuno. Nakita man pod nako nga paspas ang demand so wa koy laing choice,” she said.

Senajon said Davide himself signed the purchase request.

Gica vouched for Senajon, saying that there was really no overpricing in the procurement.

“Akong gitawagan ang supplier, barkada man nako. Na-deliver pod. Di ko kaingon nga naay overpricing kay wa man gud ko pagsa-bot nila sa presyo. Igo lang ko mi-bridge. Straight person man pod akong amigo, tarong nga tawo. I think di pod siya mosugot ana,” he added.

Davide, however, clarified that the action was not “really anomalous.” The governor said he just wanted Senajon to observe the proper procedure. He warned other department heads to observe the proper procedures.

“Any department head, even OICs, if kita ta there’s a need for improvement, ilisan sila,” Davide said.

Following her relief, Senajon will go back to her previous post as nutrition officer still under the PSWDO.

Senajon insisted that the procurement does not need to go through the bidding process since it was intended for the victims of calamity.

“Typhoon man siya, naa man tay guidelines ana niya. In times of typhoon, kanang mga procurement di na gyod na moagi og bidding. Ang atua mangita ta’g supplier nga maka-supply, unya ato pod gitan-aw nga ang supplier dili mo go beyond sa expected nga amount. Wa na nagpasabot nga nag-over pricing ko,” Senajon explained.

On the report that she was able to buy a luxury car after the relief operations in northern Cebu, Senajon said the car is owned by her daughter’s boyfriend who is into buy-and-sell business.

“Kanang sakyanan nga ilang giinitan, sa boyfriend man na sa akong anak, buy and sell man na. Wa na baya koy gigastuhan, akong mga anak naa na may trabaho,” she added.— (FREEMAN)