Defensor urges COA to review QC’s food pack dealings
ANAKALUSUGAN party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Tuesday urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to examine all coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic-related food pack procurements made by the Quezon City government.
Defensor, who is running for city mayor, said the June 18, 2021, annual audit report for the year 2020 for Quezon City covered only the use by the city administration of P479 million in financial assistance Congress had appropriated under the Bayanihan 2 Law.
That amount was used up by the city in May and July of 2020, he said.
“The report did not cover the bigger procurements in November that year – one for P402.5 million and another for P287,574,000 for a total of almost P700 million,” he said.
He added that the COA should also audit these later purchases and all the other pandemic procurements made by the administration of Mayor Joy Belmonte, including those for personal protective items like face shields.
“On the part of Mayor Belmonte, she should reveal all of these transactions so these could be scrutinized by any interested city taxpayer or resident,” Defensor stressed.
Defensor has disclosed that on Nov. 23, 2020, Belmonte issued a purchase order (PO) to LXS Trading, with the address at Sunburst Capitol Plaza, Matalino St., Barangay Central, Quezon City, for the supply of 250,000 food packages at P1,149.98 each, for a total of P275,475,000.
He said a second PO was issued to Thyme General Merchandise of Battery St., Cubao, for 350,000 packs worth P402.5 million for an identical price of P1,149.98 per pack.
