SP exec confirms Tupas’ unauthorized act on P2.2M DOH-Capitol deal
Over P2.2 million in Capitol grant from the Department of Health (DOH) is now facing questions particularly the role of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. here.
The funding was aimed at Reproductive Health (RH) advocacy primarily on artificial family planning and purchase of RH “commodities.”
With a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in place, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico uncovered though the unauthorized representation of Governor Tupas. This, as no authority was apparently granted to the governor, a pre-requisite provided for by law.
Suplico in a Certification issued by lawyer Lorenzo Tubola, Secretary to the Sanggunian, got the confirmation.
“This is to certify that based on the records of this Office, the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) ng Iloilo has not passed and approved a resolution authorizing the Governor, Honorable Niel D. Tupas Sr., for and in behalf of the Province of Iloilo to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health represented by its OIC Director Ariel Valencia, MD, MPH,CSE… wherein the Province of Iloilo is entitled to receive a grant from DOH…,” excerpts of the Certification went.
The MOA was perfected in October last year with the Province then tasked to set up a Trust Account in a government depository bank. As provided for, the MOA also called for the province to “abide by the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.”
Further still, it was stipulated that the Provincial Government was to implement the distribution of grant proceeds in accordance with the finalized distribution agreement with component local government units.