DAVAO CITY – Three officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bukidnon were ordered sacked by the Ombudsman over bidding irregularities in connection with fertilizer purchases amounting to over P9.4 million in 2009. The dismissal order was based on gross neglect of duty in connection with the implementation of the P10 million fund NIA Bukidnon got in June 2009 for the implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s bio-organic fertilizer program. Despite this, the Ombudsman said that Abdon and Calonge certified the supporting documents for the initial disbursements as complete even if it was not the case. Tenestrante, on the other hand, failed to conduct “real post-qualification of (supplier) MLB as required by Republic Act No. As such Head, she also allowed this disbursement notwithstanding the lack of public bidding,” the Ombudsman added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 02, 2018 04:07 UTC