Gullas: No irregularities in project

CEBU, Philippines – Former Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas has belied allegation that there were irregularities in the implementation of the P29 million computerization and liquid fertilizer projects of the city.

“The Information Technology Project of the (Talisay) City is not overpriced and (has no) ghost deliveries.  There was no overprice and the different software and equipment were installed in the various departments of the Talisay City Hall,” Gullas said in a statement.

Gullas made the statement in response to the report of the Commission on Audit directing him, his successor Socrates Fernandez, and 13 department heads to return the P29,360,762.70 in public funds which was used to finance the computerization project and liquid fertilizer because of alleged anomaly and irregularities.

In 2004, The Talisay City government implemented the P26.988 million computerization project for business licensing, real property assessment, personal information system, government payroll system, among others.

But COA observed that the total appropriation for the project was only P2.4 million, leaving a balance of P24.588 million without legislative appropriations.

Fernandez, who succeeded Gullas in 2004, issued executive orders realigning amounts from the city’s general fund and 20 percent development fund to pay the computerization project.

The audit body contended, however, that the mayor is not allowed to realign and utilize the savings of the city unless there is an enabling ordinance from the City Council of Talisay.

Gullas said it was the former City Legal Officer of Talisay City who certified that, under the Local Government Code, the mayor can realign and use the savings of the city and 20 percent of the development fund for the Information Technology Project.

“It was because of the recommendation of the City Legal Officer that former Mayors Gullas and Fernandez allowed the purchase and delivery of the software and equipments, after a duly published notice to bid and after a public bidding,” he said.

He added that the City Council also approved a resolution approving the realignment and use of the City savings and the 20 percent development fund.

But COA stands pat on its recommendation, which prompted Gullas and Fernandez to bring the issue to the Supreme Court through a petition for certiorari.

As to the liquid fertilizer, COA found out that the transaction was overpriced by P2.4 million or almost 400 percent of its actual cost.

Gullas said the purchase of the liquid fertilizers was the program of the Department of Agriculture, and the City of Talisay was used as the conduit for its distribution to qualified beneficiaries, the farmers.

“Mayor Fernandez in consenting to the purchase of the fertilizers relied on the documents presented to his office, the invitation to bid and the public bidding and the award to the lowest bidder by the Bids and Awards Committee, the minutes of the public bidding, among others,” he said.

Lawyer Alfredo Sipalay, the present city legal officer, earlier said COA found out that a bottle of liquid fertilizer only cost P77 but was bought by the city during the time of Gullas and Fernandez at P900 each.

Gullas said the liquid fertilizer was delivered by the lowest bidder in the public bidding conducted by Bids and Awards Committee.

The finding of COA that the liquid fertilizer was not according to specification or a lower price could have been offered by other suppliers is also pending resolution by the Supreme Court.

“Obviously, the City’s Bids and Awards Committee could not award the contact to a supplier who did not submit a bid during the public bidding,” Gullas added. —/JMO (FREEMAN)