Osmeña: Pack meals may be ‘overpriced’
CEBU, Philippines — Former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña has questioned the city government’s procurement of 60,000 food packs worth at least P49 million to be given to affected families while the city is under a state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Osmeña believes the transaction may have been overpriced and demands and explanation from Mayor Edgardo Labella.
“P824 per pack meal? That’s too much. They better explain this,” said Osmeña.
The Bids and Awards Committee, upon the request of the Department of Social Welfare and Services, recommended to Labella the procurement of pack meals containing rice, mineral water, vegetable, main dish (choices of beef, fish, and pork), and other items as immediate assistance to alleviate the condition of the affected families.
“Labella is asking the private sector to chip in, but look at what they’re doing. We better see that amount in the pack meals they will actually deliver to the people,” said Osmeña.
“Otherwise, that’s a wastage of public fund. We shall hold them accountable once this crisis is over,” he added.
City Administrator Floro Casas Jr. denied any anomaly in the transaction. In his post on Facebook, Casas said the P49 million budget was also used to buy sacks of rice and canned goods that were distributed to the barangays.
“Mayor Tom, with due respect, dili intawn ni corrupt ang administration ni Mayor Labella. I respectfully suggest you read the BAC Resolution carefully so you will find out that the 49M is not just for food packs (which is only P100 per pack) but also for “OTHER ITEMS” included in the Purchase Request (25 kg rice and assorted canned goods),” read Casas’ post.
Casas posted a photo of the purchase request for Osmeña’s reference.
“By the way, Mayor, P100 ra ang food packs karon; unlike sa imong administration nga P150 and P160 for a very simple meal,” he said in a separate post.
Casas likewise attached a copy of the purchase orders during Osmeña’s administration. FPL (FREEMAN)
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