BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Bacolod Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. is asking the City Budget Office and three other departments of the city government to review their budget request for the purchase of Vitamin C with Zinc and alcohol for possible overpricing.
Gamboa said the City Health Office (CHO) has requested for Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamins C) with Zinc amounting to P2,250 per box. He is aware of the price because he bought the same specification at P390 per box, he said.
He also pointed out that the request for alcohol, priced at P1,500 per one gallon. Gamboa said he was able to buy a gallon of alcohol at P599.
The four departments that requested project funding for their office are the CHO, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, City Engineer’s Office and the Department of Social Services and Development, Gamboa said.
He said these four offices, through the City Development Council (CDC), requested SP approval for P113 million budget. The fund will be taken from the Annual Investment Plan of the city, Gamboa said
He claimed that the prices listed by the requesting departments are three to four items higher based on retail price.
Gamboa said the role of the Sanggunaing Panlungsod is to review, question, scrutinize and to validate requests that are brought to their attention. He asked the department offices to review all the items they requested as these are overpriced.
He said they have to be careful with these purchases as the people are very vigilant.
Meanwhile, City Health Officer Dr. Carmela Gensoli said the amount listed in the budget request is not the final price.
Gensoli said they just provided an “allowance” for the actual amount which may fall short of their estimate.
If the lowest offer will win in the bidding at least they have an allowance, Gensoli said.*
