By NORA SORIÑO
Iligan City Bureau Chief .
ILIGAN City — The city council earlier this week failed to give Mayor Celso Regencia the authority to pay the supplier of medical equipment which was already delivered but with the purchase order still to be signed.
During the council’s session Monday, the officer-in-charge of the city’s accounting department, Carla O. Bano said they have to be careful on the matter even as she too has to be careful because she is set to retire soon.
When the council divided the house, seven voted “yes,’’ while six voted “no.” Thus the 2/3 majority vote necessary for the payment of the medical equipment for use in the Don Gregorio Lluch Memorial Hospital was not approved. Payment, therefore, have been held in abeyance even if it has already been delivered by the supplier, Endure Medical Inc.
Councilor Samuel Huertas said the equipment is “overpriced” as the ultrasound machine is priced only at P1.7 million but the purchase order reflected a price of P7.9 million.
For his part, Councilor Noli Pardillo said the supplier had opted to deliver the equipment because they were “excited” to have won the bidding.
Endure Medical, Inc complied with all the necessary requirements, he said and even guaranteed the maintenance of the machines and other services necessary for the smooth use of the machines.
He also said the price of P1.7 million per the flyers that he had studied, did not include such matters as shipping fees, taxes, guarantees, and maintenance, etc.
Councilor Belinda Lim, the proponent of the purchasing the equipment, said she is saddened by such development. There is no problem with the ultrasound machine but the public here need the dialysis machines immediately, thereby hinting that the medical equipment has not yet been delivered.
It was learned that the matter would be taken up again in next week’s sessions of the council. This time too, they will invite Atty. Voltaire Rovira, city legal officer, to hear his views on the matter.
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