• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The City Legal Office has issued a show cause order to City Veterinarian Dr. Maria Agueda de la Torre, after the discovery of 39 sets of African swine fever (ASF) test kits, valued at approximately P2.457 million, which expired on November 30.
In a media interview, City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo confirmed that it was part of an inventory of city government assets ordered by Mayor Greg Gasataya to check various vaccines stored in the cold room at the Bacolod City Government Center.
The test kits in question were procured by the city on November 8, 2023, but reportedly expired on November 30, 2025.
Mayo said that each kit is worth P63,000, and out of 45 purchased units, only six were used.
De la Torre has been given five days to provide a written explanation regarding the expiration of the diagnostic supplies.
“We await the explanation for appropriate action. […] We will get to the bottom of it, the reason behind the procurement that was never utilized. For us it is poor procurement management and a waste of government funds,” he said.
The city veterinarian was also facing another issue concerning the complaints raised by various animal welfare groups regarding the treatment and poor conditions of rescued stray dogs at the city pound.
The city administrator clarified that the petition of the animal welfare groups has nothing to do with the show cause order.*
