Pandemic-era food supplier wins P12.73-M claim vs DSWD Mimaropa
MANILA, Philippines – A supplier contracted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Mimaropa office won a P12.73-million claim for food deliveries made during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission on Audit (COA) ruled.
The COA granted the petition filed by the Philippine Nutri-Foods Corporation (PNFC), saying it won the bidding on July 15, 2020 for the supply and delivery of “nutripacks” to four provinces — Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Palawan — which were under community quarantines, or lockdowns during the first months of the pandemic.
PNFC delivered P9.76-million worth of nutripacks to Romblon, P1.22 million to Oriental Mindoro, P873,915 to Puerto Galera, P761,040 to Marinduque, and P112,710 to Palawan.
To support its claim, the PNFC submitted copies of various documents such as the notice of post qualification, notice of award, contract, performance bond, purchase order, notice to proceed, sales invoice, and collection receipts.
While DSWD Mimaropa did not object to the claim, it said that it acted as only the recipient and facilitator of the Supplemental Feeding Program. It added that the PNFC submitted the claim late, and there was a shortage of cash available to pay them.
The COA said that there was no question that PNFC was entitled to compensation since it accomplished its obligations by completing deliveries at the time they were expected. It also noted that neither the validity of the contract, nor the completion of the delivery was being challenged.
“PMFC complied with its obligation to deliver the food items as shown in the sales invoice and delivery Receipts. Thus, it is clearly established that PNFC is entitled to be paid….inasmuch as it would unjustly enrich the DSWD RO IV-B (Mimaropa Regional Office) at PNFC’s expense if the obligation to pay is not settled,” the COA said.
“Notably, the only reason for its non-payment of which PNFC has no control or participation is that the claims were not considered in the request for cash allocation; thus, leaving the available cash insufficient to pay the approved disbursement vouchers,” the commission added. – Rappler.com