Anti-flood purchase hits snag

CEBU, Philippines — The purchase of P24-million worth of declogging machines as part of the Cebu City Government’s response against flooding has hit yet another stumbling block with the City Council, with City Councilor Jerry Guardo withdrawing his appropriation resolution.

This was after his colleagues at the City Council, during their regular session last week, questioned the lack of specifications and detailed viability of the purchase, which they emphasized should be satisfied when Guardo refiles the resolution.

Guardo was also told to separate the request for the purchase of a P2-million plotter for use in the printing of programs of work and estimate (POWE).

During the said session, City Councilor Nestor Archival quizzed Guardo about the specifications of the machines since they were not attached to the resolution.

Guardo explained that the declogging machines use high-powered jet pumps that have two compartments—one would store the sludge while another one will store clean water.

The high-powered jet pumps suck out debris from clogged drainage systems to clean them.

Guardo also reasoned that how the machines work was already explained by Task Force Gubat sa Baha Chief Implementer Melquiades Feliciano during a presentation at the City Council.

“Currently, right now, using manual man ang atong cleaning and our people can no longer reach ang katong mga clogged area,” he said, emphasizing the immediacy of the purchase.

City Councilor Franklyn Ong, however, said that the Cebu City already owned a similar machine that is specifically handled by the Department of Public Services (DPS), although he has yet to know if it still works.

Guardo responded that the machines Ong referred to are not effective for the required tasks.

“My point is if we are going to buy this kind of machine that is P24 million and we do not have people to manage it, to have people (taught) how to use it, and we don’t have people to maintain it, that’s a waste of money,” Archival said.

He then suggested that the City instead rent the equipment instead of procuring another one.

Guardo however said that what the City intends to purchase are new and specialized machines and not one is available for rent.

“So kinahanglan ni siya og technical person? So, we buy these machines ‘nya wa tay technical person. Ang end view ani guba ra gihapon. So we will be throwing good money,” also said City Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos.

City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, however, pointed out that every time the City purchases such kind of equipment, one that requires specialized skills to handle, the procurement also include training or knowledge transfer so the City’s own people could handle the equipment.

As the discussion progressed, City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover noted that the questions were being raised since there was no visualization of the equipment that was presented.

On the lack of specifications, Guardo said they were already distributed to the members the same day they had their session, which colleagues pointed out should be done way ahead so they could still study them.

On the plotter that was lump with the request for the purchase of the declogging machines, Archival said P2 million is way too expense, since he owns one that just cost him P200,000.

Guardo withdrew his resolution but is expected to refile it with the specifications and the viability justification already included and for him to make a separate resolution for the plotter. — /RHM (FREEMAN)