For 'Defective' school furniture Supplier paid P10M of P17M

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Education-Cebu province released P10,587,942.18 out of P17 million as payment to the contractor of the controversial school furniture that have been reported as defective and sub-standard.

Although, officials of DepEd-Cebu Province denied The Freeman expose that the school furniture were sub-standard and there were no irregularities, but documents obtained by The Freeman prove otherwise.

Based on the documents obtained by The Freeman, it showed that the first payment was made by the DepEd on November 12, 2008 amounting to P2,569.555.69.

The disbursement voucher was signed by Accountant II Gervasia F. Sanchez after the certification that the supporting documents were complete and proper and that payment was approved and signed by Judiana M. Corriente, Officer Charge of the Office of the Assistant School Division Superintendent.

Corriente is the chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee of DepEd-Cebu Province.

The second payment was made by the DepEd on December 19, 2008 amounting to P3,849,827,46.

The disbursement voucher again certified by Sanchez but was signed by School Division Superintendent Serena C. Uy.

The payment was received on January 21, 2009 by one Riodito Cabilao.

The disbursement voucher of the third payment dated December24, 2008 amounting to P4,168,560.03 was certified by Sanchez and approved for payment by Corriente.

The payment was received on March 20 by one Riodito Cabilao.

When The Freeman called up Cebu Province School Division Superintendent Arden Monisit after a complaints raised by the parents and school officials that the school furniture delivered to them were sub-standard and failed to comply the specifications, Monisit claimed that he had no knowledge because they were ordered during the time of Uy.

But the documents obtained by The Freeman show that Monisit himself called the attention of Kenneth Galang of Gala Industries, Inc. of Tabunok, Talisay City to rectify the defects.

Monisit in his letter dated February 23, requested Galang  for the rectification of defective furniture before they will issue a certificate of acceptance.

The letter states “With reference to the Supply and Delivery of Elementary Tables and Chairs, Teacher’s Tables and Chairs/armchairs for calendar year 2007, we would like to request for the immediate rectification of the defective furniture delivered to the recipient schools of said project.”

The same letter of Monisit to Galang further said “Attached is a listing of the defective furniture, for your reference. We look forward for your immediate action on this matter, so that the Certificate of Acceptance can be issued.”

Monisit, in his letter, listed 72 elementary schools and 40 high schools of Cebu province where defective furniture were found.

But on February 24, a day after Monisit wrote a letter to Galang, a disbursement voucher was issued and signed by Corriente representing the last payment to Gala Industries amounting to P4,379,923.06.

The disbursement voucher was certified by Sanchez and signed by Corriente. Attached was an inspection report by Teonilo Ibarra and Felix Mejias, Jr., reviewed by one Romulo Abella and approved by School Division Superintendent Serena C. Uy.

The inspection report said that the units appear to be in good condition, but still subject for further evaluation as to its durability and performance.

The documents did not show the date on the conduct of the inspection.

Uy retired late last year and was replaced by Monisit.

However, another document obtained by The Freeman showed that another inspection report signed by Mejias, Ibarra without Paras, but noted by Abella and approved by Monisit shows that a number of schools elementary and high school armchairs and tables were with defects.

The Freeman also noted that some of the schools inspected by the team created by Monisit where they discovered defects in the furniture were the same schools listed in the attachment of DepEd-Cebu Province when it released the three disbursement vouchers for the payment to the contractor.

Another document obtained by The Freeman showed that On April 27, Monisit issued an affidavit stating that on April 25, his office received an Advance Notice of Cash Allocation Fund 101 from the Department of Budget and Management Region VII in the amount of P27,116.481,00.

Included in the said Advice is a payment to Gala Industries Inc. through the Development Bank of the Philippines Account No. 5-24958-735-5 in the amount of P4,379,923,06.

The same affidavit Monisit said “The payment to Gala Industries, Inc. should have been stopped or withheld considering that sometime in February, 2009, our office discovered the defects in the furniture and fixture delivered to the schools within the province of Cebu.”

Monisit added “Until and unless the same defects were remedied, fixed and corrected, DepEd will continue to withhold payment to said supplier.”

Monisit further said “ This affidavit is executed to attest to the truth of the foregoing and for the purpose of advising the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Osmeña Boulevard Branch, Cebu City not to credit the account of Gala Industries, Inc. of the said amount and if its account has already been credited with the same amount, a debit of the said amount must be done forthwith to protect the interest of the DepEd.”

Akbayan Party-List Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Basic Education and Good Government to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the alleged irregularity in the P17 million school furniture program.

The investigation will also include the accusations of favoritism by the Bids and Awards Committee in favor of Gala Industries, Inc.

BAC chairman Corriente and members Romualdo Abella, Willie Adonay, Jr., Salud Luna and Gerardo Mantos,  in a letter to Baraquel dated May 20, strongly denied the alleged irregularity involving the purchased of the school furniture and delivery.

The letter said “The committee gratefully welcomes the planned investigation in aid of legislation by your office, so that the surrounding issues and circumstances involving the said project will be objectively resolved and clarified.”

The BAC members further said that they would like to stress that the project is above board as the contract that was awarded to the winning bidder was given to the said bidder after carefully following the procedure prescribed by Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. -/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)