Pampanga execs buy vehicles worth P21M

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Pampanga government last week bought 19 new vehicles, some of them considered luxury cars, despite a ban on the purchase and use of luxury vehicles in government service and amid cost-cutting measures by the national government, the Inquirer learned.

Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao confirmed the delivery of two Mitsubishi Montero, a sport utility vehicle, to him and Gov. Lilia Pineda on Saturday.

Guiao said he has no information on who received the other vehicles. At least 13 Mitsubishi Strada pick-up trucks were reportedly issued to each provincial board member.

Described in the invitation to bid that was posted on the capitol website on July 22 were “15 units of pick-up truck service vehicles (P15.45 million), two units of AUV (Asian utility vehicles) service vehicles (P1.98 million), and two other units AUV service vehicle (P3.56 million),” for a total of P20.99 million.

But the actual amount bid by the lone bidder was P21.463 million, according to a bid bulletin posted on Aug. 1.

The bid was opened on Friday, a source in the provincial government said. The capitol, however, did not post a notice of award to the vehicle supplier.

The actual cost exceeded the P20 million capital outlay given to the provincial board. This budget was included in Ordinance No. 431, which authorized a supplemental budget of P116.053 million and was approved by Pineda on Nov. 2, 2010.

“It took several months to make the purchase because we had to complete the requirements,” Guiao said by telephone on Monday.

The board initially wanted to buy Hyundai Sante Fe and Tucson models.

Administrative Order No. 15, issued by President Aquino on May 25, reiterated the prohibition on acquisition and use of luxury vehicles.

Memorandum Circular No. 9, issued in December, laid out the government policy and procedural and documentary requirements on the approval and issuance of authority to buy vehicles.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo confirmed that he approved the purchase. “[The provincial government] complied with all the requirements,” Robredo said in a text message sent to the Inquirer.

But the Department of the Interior and Local Government, he said, “cannot decide as to how [local governments] will spend their funds.”

While several capitol employees prefer the money to be spent on public services, Guiao said the purchase was necessary since the vehicles he and the board members are using are five to six years old now.