Gastronomic anomaly

From its original schedule of April this year, Madrid Fusion Manila has been moved to Sept. 25-29, 2018.

At first glance, it would seem that there is nothing wrong with this. After all, events get postponed or rescheduled all the time.

According to a report by forbes.com, Madrid Fusion Manila is the largest international gastronomy event in the country. Starting in 2015 as a project of the Department of Tourism and the private sector, it aims to showcase the country as an emerging culinary destination. It features Philippine cuisine as interpreted by international chefs.

But according to Department of Tourism officials, the postponement was necessary because they wanted to make sure that everything was done properly. They found out that the organizers and previous DOT officials under former Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez have failed to submit liquidation reports for part of the P360 million spent by the government to stage the event.

The DOT this time made sure that government services procurement rules would be implemented strictly, including those involving bidding out the contract for events management and promotion, venue and other services. No biddings were conducted in the past. Since the Tourism Promotion Board (TPB) headed by Cesar Montano started the ball rolling for the procurement process only this February, there was no option but to reset the event.

DOT’s latest action came in response to findings by the Commission on Audit that the amounts spent in 2015 and 2016 as government subsidy for Madrid Fusion Manila remain unliquidated. Only the 2017 spending was accounted for by DOT and the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers Inc. (PACEOS), the event organizer.

Of the P120 million a year released by the DOT, P40 million went to PACEOS which was tapped by Jimenez to handle the three-day event since 2015 allegedly without any bidding, DOT sources revealed.

DOT is also questioning why the agency under Jimenez bound the government to implement the project for five years without the benefit of a bidding.

Government resolve

Late last week, the Bureau of Customs said that it has filed smuggling charges against Manila South Harbor operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), as well as several importers and brokers from six corporations for allegedly conniving in the illegal release of 105 shipping containers.

The charges were filed against ATI AVP for South Harbor operations Steve Realuyo and shift manager Darwin Dalmacio before the Department of Justice through the bureau’s Action Team Against Smugglers.

Similar charges were also filed against the owners, officials and customs brokers of Premier Oak Lumber and Wood Products Corp., Spectrum Highlands Marketing Corp., Megaabundancesteel Indent Trading Corp., Abundancegain Indent Trading Corp., Paragon Platinum International Trading Corp., and Imperialfoods and Agricultural Prod.

BOC chief Isidro Lapena said that they will make sure that importers, brokers and arrastre operators who blatantly violate customs rules and regulations will face legal action and revocation of customs accreditation

A report from the STAR and other media outfits quoted Lapeña as accusing officials of ATI and the six firms of conniving to have the 105 containers released without being examined, despite alert orders issued against the shipments.

He said the shipments, which have a total dutiable value of P69.68 million, were allegedly released by ATI without authorization from him. The containers were later found in two warehouses in Bulacan. Lapeña warned that BOC personnel involved in the unlawful activity will also be charged.

The BOC said the accused violated the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act provisions on unlawful importation or exportation and removing goods from customs’ custody which are punishable by imprisonment of up to 40 years and a fine of up to P50 million.

Unless ATI cleans up its act, it may find itself suffering the same fate as Miascor, whose contract to manage and operate ground handling operations at NAIA, Clark, Kalibo and Davao, was no longer renewed following a luggage theft incident at Clark Airport.

The Philippine Ports Authority has a contract with ATI for the management and development of the country’s premier port until 2038. The PPA has also granted a 25-year concession to ATI for Batangas Container Terminal. Its subsidiary ATI Batangas Inc. is the sole cargo handling contractor operating at the Port of Batangas.

Not so hidden agenda

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