The hog transaction stinks
Sorry to say it but I believe the officials in Magalang town aren’t really ready on the controversy brought about by the ‘illegal’sale of 4,038 hogs. At best it is both embarrassing for both Mayor Malou Lacson et. al. and Bacolor Mayor Jomar Hizon. They have a lot of explaining to do. More from Lacson and maybe less from Hizon.
First, what’s the nature of the agreement when the 4,038 pigs were turned over by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to the municipality of Magalang? Is there a formal agreement that the hogs can be sold? If there is, PDEA is equally liable for it doesn’t own them. If none, possible liability falls on Lacson.
With due respect to all, these were the steps that should have been taken, assuming the pigs became properties of the municipality. The mayor should have secured an authority from the Sanggunian Bayan to negotiate for the disposal of the hogs. The bidding should have followed the process under the procurement law, R.A. 9184. And after the transaction, the Sanggunian should ratify such.
There must be a publication of the bidding in a newspaper of general circulation. It should be posted on PhilGeps, the government website. There must be a pre-bidding conference between the agency and bidders.(In this particular case there is only one bidder. Mayor Hizon showed interest, and there were no other bidders).
Mayor Hizon should submit a bid with the corresponding documents required which are several. His submission should correspond to the bill of particulars which in the first place prepared by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the municipal government. It can’t be a one-on-sale between the two mayors. Collusion in a transaction will make both guilty.
It can’t be advanced an excuse that the hogs may pose danger to the health of the townspeople. There is a a veterinary office I presume in the municipality, and if none the mayor can always seek the assistance of the provincial government.
People are on their adding machines and are computing if really the 4,038 pigs will only fetch P7 million. My friend Ray Dizon, a long time supplier of cut pork among meat vendors at Pampang public market in Angeles City told me that live weight cost P116 per kilo. And of these thousand animals (big and small) it will average 40 kilos per.
My tweets: +Two new airports possible— one in Sangley,Cavite and the other in Bulacan, said DOTr Secretary Art Tugade. News item, business page of Philippine Star. + Upgrade first Clark International Airport (CIA). + Atta boy CIAC President Alex Caugiran. With rolled sleeves he went up north for a roadshow to lure northern travellers to utilize CIA.
+ Congrats to Police General Guillermo Eleazar, who finally got the star rank. He is currently director of the Quezon City Police.
+ May we humbly suggest to General Ronald ‘Bato’de la Rosa to consider Gen. Eleazar an assignment here in Central Luzon. Eleazar’s caliber is needed to wipe out drug traders in the region. He is a smash success in QC.