MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has scolded the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) for hiring the services of two unqualified caterers, which placed the health of inmates at risk.
“Two caterers of the BuCor failed to comply with the food safety requirements stipulated in the Food Subsistence Agreement (FSA) covering the period July 1 to Dec. 31, 2018, resulting in a poor catering service and endangering the health of the inmates,” the COA said in an annual audit report uploaded on its website on June 19.
The erring caterers were the Aurora F. Sumulong Eatery (AFS) and V&J Trading.
AFS was hired for food provision of the inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP)’s medium security compound and the Reception and Diagnostic Center in Muntinlupa City.
V&J Trading was hired for the food needs of the inmates at the minimum security compound as well as for inmates at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
Among the deficiencies that the audit body noted were the lack of sanitary permits, failure to employ food compliance officers, lack of health certificates of the food handlers, lack of certificate of water potability issued by the city health offices of Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong as well as lack of pest treatment certification.
State auditors said the caterer for the maximum security compound – Mang Kiko Catering Services – complied with the provisions of the contract except for the buffer stock requirement.
The COA ordered BuCor to instruct the NBP and CIW superintendents to evaluate the performance of the caterers for possible contract termination.
The BuCor said it has issued notices to AFS and V&J Trading, directing the caterers to show cause why their contracts should not be terminated.
In the same audit report, the COA called out the BuCor for execessive procurement of medicine, which resulted in an overstock of more than three months in violation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“Apparently, the actual demand of patients was not considered in the procurement of drugs and medicine, resulting in excess procurement in the amount of P15,501,612.25,” COA said.
“This is a clear disregard of the actual needs of the inmates or purchases of the same even without the basis to purchase,” it added.
The audit body said BuCor purchased last year 99,300 tablets of Verapamil 180mg, but only 3,450 tablets were issued to inmates.
The COA recommended to BuCor to “keep track of the movement of drugs and medicine to ensure safety stock levels and avoid excessive purchases.”