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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider COA affirms P3.1-M disallowance vs Laoag City on purchase of dengue fumigation chemicals in 2019

COA affirms P3.1-M disallowance vs Laoag City on purchase of dengue fumigation chemicals in 2019

Published May 27, 2025 01:07 pm

The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed the notice of disallowance (ND) it issued against the officials of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte on the improper use of P3.183 million for the purchase of chemicals used for dengue fumigation in 2019.

Former Laoag City mayor Michael Marcos Keon and four local officials filed a petition for review before the COA challenging the agency’s decision which affirmed ND No. 20-042-100 on the P3,183,000 payment for Cyfluthrin W and Temephos chemiclas.

The chemicals, purchased from Fharoyo Trading on Oct. 15, 2019, were used for fumigation to prevent and control the dengue disease. It was charged against the city's Quick Response Fund (QRF).

The COA issued the ND with a finding that the payment for the chemicals out of the city’s QRF was contrary to existing laws, rules, and regulations governing the release and utilization of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (DRRMF) of local government units (LGUs).

It said that Laoag City was not placed under a state of calamity by the President, Sanggunian Panlalawigan, or the Sangguniang Panlungsod. It also said the declaration of a national epidemic is not synonymous to a state of calamity for which the QRF may be utilized.

It his appeal, Keon told the COA that the Ilocos Region exceeded the alert threshold for dengue with 4,396 cases. The city itself recorded 442 confirmed dengue cases with one death from January to Sept. 10, 2019, and the procurement was made in good faith, he also said.

However, the COA found the petition lacking in merit as the petitioners (Keon and the other city officials) failed to justify the release and use of its QRD for the payment of chemicals.

"The Prosecution and Litigation Office, Legal Services Sector, is hereby directed to evaluate the case and forward the same to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and filing of appropriate charges against the persons responsible for the transaction, if warranted, in view of the improper use the Quick Response Fund," the COA ruled.

The nine-page decision was signed by Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba and Commissioners Roland Cafe Pondoc and Mario G. Lipana.

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