SP uncovers misdelivered

Bangus fish cage project

CORTES, Bohol, Aug 19 (PIA)—What would happen if a government funded project is erroneously delivered to a different beneficiary, and is implemented possibly in good faith, despite skipping government processes?

This would seem to be the core question in the manifestation of Board Member Tita Baja in her July 4 representation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Government Properties, Enterprises and related undertaking.

The committee tackled the request for amendment of SP resolution authorizing the transfer without cost to qualified individual fishermen and fishermen’s association, fishing implements procured by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).

Procured under the Agricultural Forestry Equipment 20% Development Fund, the Bangus Production Program, or the establishment of bamboo fish cages for milkfish production in support to Aquaculture for Rural Transformation (ART) was supposedly for Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Tinangnan (NMT) of Tubigon, one of the qualified beneficiaries.

However, the supplier delivered it to Aguiningnong Pundok sa Yanong Mananagat (APYM) of the Municipality of Carlos P. Garcia

Already qualified as an SP accredited people’s organization, NMT’s package of fish cages came with SP Resolution No. 2022-557, authorizing its transfer to NMT.

However, information surfacing during the committee hearing bared that NMT, one of the qualified beneficiaries, waived the project due to financial shortcomings.

On the other hand, APYM of Carlos P. Garcia sent a letter of intent to avail of the fish cage project.

In a letter to Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado dated May 29, 2023, Tubigon Mayor, Engr. William R. Jao requested the waiver for the transfer of the project, without signifying if it was a waiver for NMT and that the mayor had the organization’s permission.

While probing for the reason behind the Mayor’s waiver request, Rhesa Y. Gutierez, Aquamarine Section Head of the OPA, shared that it was Russel Rama, Tubigon Municipal Agriculturist who advanced the information that NMT declined to accept the 4 Units Materials for Bangus Fish Cages for incapacity to afford bangus feeds.

Using this information, and with NMT rescinding the agreement with the PGBh as stipulated in the specific MOA for the project, the supplier of the 4 units of materials for Bangus Fish Cages delivered the said fishing implements to APYM of Carlos P. Garcia, without due permission or following procedures.

It was here that the SP Committee saw the flaws and lapses in the planning and implementation of the Bangus Production Program, especially in the Transfer Without Cost.

The SP committee noted how OPA missed to disclose the MOA to the identified beneficiary, and that OPA representatives failed to explain why the supplier delivered all the said fishing implements to the APYM without OPA knowledge.

As APYM is not an accredited people’s organization, it was not immediately known if it is illegible to get the assistance.

According to OPA Fishery Division Head Mary Queen Atup, it has been a standard practice pursuant to the stipulations under the MOA that accreditations from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Cooperative Development Agency would suffice for groups to get government assistance.

To settle the matter, the SP Committee believes that a mayor’s waiver is insufficient to amend a of provincial resolution and asked OPA to secure the waiver from the NMT, so that the legislative body can initiate the amendment of the resolution.

Moreover, the Committee further directed OPA to study on the accreditation requirements of PGBh pursuant to existing Provincial Ordinances to avoid technical mistakes as early as in the identification of beneficiaries.

Now, as to the earlier question, even in good faith, the irregularity, where corrected immediately or not, could be a cause for a suit. (PIABohol)

BYPASSED. SP accreditation of Peoples Organizations and Non Government Organizations appear to have not worked as a government assistance from the Provincial Government gets delivered to a non accredited PO, with nobody capable of explaining how the supplier decided to deliver the package of project to another organization not authorized by the SP resolution, as Board member Tita Baja and her Committee found out. (PIAbohol/RVO)