Payments for buffet, snacks questioned

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has questioned a purchase order from a company for the assemblies of Cebu City Cooperative Development Council (CCCDC) after some legislators reportedly found the qualification of the supplier sketchy.

The discussion on the matter surfaced after Councilor Francis Esparis, on behalf of Councilor Edgardo  Jaypee  Labella II, moved for the approval of the charging of more than P988,000 against the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) for the payment of a buffet, with two snack services, during the cooperative development assemblies to Cebu Best Value Trading, and for food and venue services during the cooperative summit and year-end assessment to the Cebu Business Hotel.

During the discussion, Councilor Nestor Archival questioned the clarity of the nature of Cebu Best Value Trading, which had a budget appropriation of P593,000, adding that its name differs from the service they are being paid for.

Councilor Rey Gealon said that although the supplier is listed as a trading service, they also provide food services.

Councilor Joy Young, however, suggested that the proposal should first be clarified, adding that the problem lies in the qualification of the supplier.

 The past year, ang madunggan nako pirmi, ang mga supplier dira, dili qualified, tan-awon nimo nga asa ang opisina, way opisina, tua sa Manila, adtuon lang, walay opisina sa Manila,  said Young.

He added that it is valid for council members to question the nature of this specific supplier, which he said is enough grounds to investigate the qualification of this business as a government supplier.

Young then said that while there is no problem in choosing a supplier, the responsibility lies in ensuring that it meets the proper qualifications.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, who presided the session, said that upon checking, she found out that Cebu Best Value Trading is also a supplier of the Cebu Provincial Government for food.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, for his part, noted that there was no attached invoice for the transactions in the proposed resolution for charging.

With these factors cited, Esparis then moved to defer the resolution instead of pushing for its approval.

In the attached proposal, it was stated that the CCCDC is a special body of the Cebu City Government that supervises all cooperatives operating within Cebu City.

It added that the CCCDC regularly holds general assembly meetings for member participation and decision-making.

In line with this, it was stressed that two of the assemblies held were catered by Cebu Best Value Trading Corp. and Cebu Business Hotel.

However, documents for payment of food and venue services failed to be accounted for in the books of account due to an oversight that resulted in its omission, hence the need for the expenses to be charged to the Prior Years Account. (CEBU NEWS)