Bacolod Council grants mayor to sign MOA for speech lab packages

THE Bacolod City Council approved the REMURCIA quest of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for authority to sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Nikka Trading for the K-12 Interactive Language Laboratory (Speech Lab) packages.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the City Council on committee on laws, said yesterday they approved the request based on the intervention of the Office of the Ombudsman so they can pay the Nikka Trading for the installation of the speech laboratory equipment in 22 public schools in the city.

Those who voted in favor to sign the MOA were Councilors Distrito, Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Dindo Ramos, Renecito Novero, Elmer Sy, Bartolome Orola, Ana Marie Palermo, Sonya Verdeflor, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Claudio Puentevella, Ayesha Joy Villaflor and Lady Gles Gonzales.

Only Councilor Ricardo Tan opposed the move.

In 2017, supplier Nikka Trading has already complied with its contractual obligation to install the speech laboratory equipment in 22 public high schools.

In 2016, the Department of Education (Deped) refused to accept the equipment after they found out that the supplier delivered the units not in accordance with the specifications they requested.

The previous administration has already issued a check worth P38,683,507.50 as payment to Nikka Trading for the acquisition of 22 sets of K to 12 Interactive Language Laboratory, but the payment was withheld when the transition team of Leonardia discovered the transaction.

Nikka Trading has installed a total of 688 computers in Mandalagan National High School, Angela Gonzaga National High School, Bacolod City National High School, Bata National High School;

Barangay Singcang-airport National High School, Cabug National High School, Domingo Lacson National High School, Emiliano Lizares National High School, Fr. Gratian Murray, FSC Integrated School;

Handumanan National High School, Generoso Villanueva National High School, Jovito Sayson National High School, Luis Hervias National High School, Luisa Medel National High School, Mansilingan Agro Industrial High School;

M. Medalla Integrated

School, Paglaum Village National High School, Romanito Maravilla National High School, Sum-ag National High School, Teofilo Gensoli National High School, Alangilan National High School, and Abkasa National High School.

Distrito said all the requirements were followed so the Office of the Ombudsman recommended that there should be a MOA between the city government and Nikka Trading, but the City Council wanted that the agreement should be authorized and to be ratified by the City Council.

He said Schools Division Superintendent Cynthia Demavivas issued a certification that Nikka Trading was already compliant as well as the 22 school principals and teachers also issued affidavits that they accepted the units.

Distrito noted that during the process, there were some discrepancies on the part of Nikka Trading, but those discrepancies were already complied by the company.

Distrito said the MOA will be submitted to the Ombudsman for its approval then, it will be returned to the city for the release of the payment.

“From the very start, the mayor said that we are not objecting on this program, however, we have to follow the procedure and to be compliant on the laws,” he said.