• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City Government Employees’ Union (BCGEU) is officially withholding payment to food suppliers and has issued an apology following reports of spoiled meals served during its Employees’ Day celebration.
In a formal statement, BCGEU President Erry Lagtapon said that the union has not paid the suppliers a single centavo and will continue to withhold payment until the total number of spoiled meals is fully determined.
Following an emergency board meeting with the meal providers, the suppliers suggested that extreme ambient temperature during transit was the probable cause of the spoilage.
However, Lagtapon emphasized that the union will strictly enforce its Contract of Service, which mandates that payment is only due upon the full delivery of food packs in good condition.
Lagtapon acknowledged that while the verification process may be tedious, due diligence is necessary to protect the people’s money.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo said that spoilage attributed to the supplier must be replaced immediately or the cost will be deducted from the total contract price.
Mayo said that the BCGEU will impose the sanctions provided in the contract of service between the caterers.
“On the part of the city, that’s the kind of action that we will be expecting. They will address [the issue] with a sense of urgency. We will monitor the sanctions they will be imposing,” he said.
The city administrator also clarified that blacklisting will not be imposed by the city to the two caterers as they did not undergo a public bidding, and the contract is between the union and the suppliers.*
