Rojas,Esclamado Defends PSWDO Head

April 16,2011

Rojas, Esclamado Defend PSWDO Head On Purchase On Credit Goods For Victims Of Calamities By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr. Maasin City, Southern Leyt-Two Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Teopisto Rojas,Jr. and Albert Esclamado have defended PSWDO(Provincial Social Welfare Development Office) head Nelita Gonzales-Gomez on her purchase on credit for goods and foodstuff at SLEMCOOP (Southern Leyte Employees Cooperative,Inc.)Store for victims of the January 2011 calamities, which were only discussed during the past two weeks after the goods have already been distributed to the concerned victims in 4 municipalities of the province. The goods and foodstuff which consist of 100 sacks of rice and 100 cartoons of sardines, corned beef and other foodstuff like noodles were worth P400,000.00 plus. These were distributed to the four municipalities of ST.Bernard, San Francisco, Sogod and Bontoc. Rojas has taken exceptions to COA (Commission On Audit) finding that PSWDO head is not authorized to purchase, most particularly on credit. He informed the august body that the incumbent Governor Damian Mercado has already authorized Gomez to purchase such goods because of the management prerogative “to address the urgency for the financial assistance”. Esclamado favorably supported Rojas’ declaration by saying that in times of emergency cases, there’s no need for any legislative action because of the nature of the urgency caused by various calamities hitting part of the province. However, Rojas told Gomez that she can make cash advance so that she can pay immediately the sacks of rice and foodstuff. But the PSWD head negated his claim by saying that COA did not approve the cash advance that’s why her office decided to purchase the goods on credit. She told the provincial board members present that payments for the goods on credit will come from the provincial government’s Calamity Fund. Esclamado asked another colleague Abelardo Almario, Chairman Committee on Laws if confirming PSWDO’s action would not be inconsistent with COA’s ruling considering that the goods were already taken and the legal action has come later. Almario explained to him that the august body must give legality to what the Governor and the PSWDO head have done in connection with the purchase on credit foodstuff because in times of emergency the concerned office could not arrange an agreement like MOA with the suppliers as required by COA. “Emergency situations call for an immediate reaction or activity to mitigate or assist the victims of calamity”, he stressed. Rojas then moved to pass a confirming resolution no.183-s.2011, which was seconded by Roberto Lagumbay,with instruction that Gomez should substantiate the distribution of the purchased goods and foodstuff. Gomez told them that she had already submitted the Requisition Issue Slip to the Provincial Administrator Crispin Arong,Jr. To recall the continual heavy rains last January 2011 have wrought havoc to the municipalities of St.Bernard, San Francisco, Sogod and Bontoc with floods and landslides. It damaged several houses, drowning 4 children and badly affecting hundreds of families and thousands of individuals. The victims of the calamities were temporarily housed in various evacuation centers in each aforesaid municipality. Some government agencies, private companies and some individuals have come to provide relief goods and foodstuff like sacks of rice,canned goods,noodles, laundry and bathing soaps,clothings,containers of drinking water,medicines,kitchen untensils,toiletry products, financial assistance, among others.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)