COA orders DepEd-Cebu to pay P484,715 for sports equipment, supplies purchased in 2015
The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered the Department of Education’s Division of Cebu (DepEd-Cebu) to pay P484,715 to Peter Sports and Craft Sales for sports equipment and supplies purchased in 2015.
Peter Sports won the bidding for the supply and delivery of sports equipment and supplies to DepEd-Cebu for the Cebu Provincial Sports and Cultural Festival from Jan. 23 to 28, 2015.
The DepEd-Cebu had an approved budget of P499,000. Peter Sports had the lowest bid of P484,715.
While the delivery of the contracted sports equipment and supplies was done on Jan. 22, 2015, no payment was made to Peter Sports.
The DepEd-Cebu claimed that it was not privy to the transaction and no funds were earmarked for the contract.
In ruling in favor of Peter Sports, the COA said the documents attached to the records of the case were sufficient to substantiate the amount claimed.
Although there was no acceptance or delivery receipt, the General Athletic Manager during the event testified that the government benefited from the delivery of the sports equipment and supplies.
"Verily, to deny the money claim of Peter Sports will not only result in unjust enrichment on the part of DepEd-Cebu, but will also cause grave injustice on the part of the supplier," the COA ruled.
The 11-page decision was signed by Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba and Commissioners Roland Cafe Pondoc and Mario G. Lipana.