Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday said the recent acquisition of new vehicles for Negros Occidental board members did not undergo bidding because they were purchased from exclusive dealers.

If they were purchased from an exclusive dealer it is my understanding that they do jot have to undergo bidding, he said.

Zayco said the vehicles were purchased from the P1.5 million discretionary fund given to each board member, and since the vehicles prices ranged from P1.1 to P1.2 million they still have P300,000 to P400,000 each left for projects for their districts.

The board members were given the option on how to use their discretionary fund, Zayco said.

The governor said the provincial government would also pass a supplementary budget soon to add to the Special Allocation Fund of the board members for more projects for their constituents.

The board members would be given additional funds of from P1 to 1.5 million for projects for their constituents, he said.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, Negros Occidental provincial director, has also made a request with the provincial government for a vehicle to be used for his inspection of police posts around the province, Zayco said.

Provincial Board Member Nehemias dela Cruz Sr. said there is nothing wrong with the provincial board member’s purchase new vehicles because they need them to serve their constituents.

The vehicles of the board members needed to be replaced  because they were old, the one assigned to him was already nine years old, he said.

The old Ford Ranger assigned to me was very uncomfortable and its airconditioning was defective, that was what aggravated the stroke I had in December, de la Cruz said.

The money used for the vehicles was not from our Special Allocation Fund which we use for projects for our constituents, the money we used was allocated specifically for the vehicles that was promised to us by then Gov. Joseph Maranon.

It came from the discretionary fund of the governor, that is the way I understand it, he said.

Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan said purchased were two Ford Ranger Trekker 4x4s worth P1,209,456 each for Board Members dela Cruz Sr. and Renato Gustilo of the first district, and  six Ford Everest vehicles at P1,186,485 each for Board Members Mae Javellana and Janet Torres of the fourth district, Adolfo Mangao Sr. and Macario Zafra Jr. of the sixth district, George Gitano – Association of Barangay Captains Federation president, and Raul Rivera – Provincial Councilors League-Negros Occidental chapter president.

Board Member Melvin Ibañez of the fifth district opted to buy a P1,150,000 Nissan Navara pickup, while Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko of the third district went for a P500,000 secondhand Mitsubishi Estrada, Pinongan said.

The provincial government was given discounts in the purchase of the Ford vehicles, Zayco said.

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary York Ylosorio said Board Member Edgardo Acuña had also asked for a Ford Everest and Board Member Miller Serondo has a pending request.

No request was made for a vehicle for Sangguniang Kabataan Federation representative Jebmari Bacaro, he said.

Board Member Patrick Lacson of the third district did not buy a new vehicle opting to use his funds for projects in his district, while Emilio Yulo III who is now vice governor, also did not ask for a new vehicle, Zayco said.

The governor said he also did not request for a new vehicle.*CPG

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