THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered on Wednesday the suspension of a ranking official from the Department of Agriculture for simple neglect of duty over a multimillion-peso bio-organic fertilizer program.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales directed the Agriculture secretary to implement the suspension order of regional executive director Lealyn Ramos of Cagayan de Oro.
Investigation found from 2009 to 2012, the National Irrigation Authority purchased thousands of bags/liters of organic fertilizers worth over P17.6 million.
Upon validation, it was found the procurement was highly irregular since the suppliers were not qualified to supply the fertilizers and pesticides, and the deliveries failed to meet the required product specifications and quality standards.
The report showed there was no conduct of a public bidding, and the bidders did not pass the eligibility check.
The Ombudsman said the suppliers did not have the capacity to meet the required volume and were mere dealers, instead of manufacturers.
Regina Salazar, the wife of the former NIA administrator Carlos Salazar, was one of the suppliers of the fertilizers.
“Respondent was required to oversee and monitor the implementation of the projects to make sure that they are successful. If it were really true that [Ramos], through her subordinates, conducted monitoring and actual inspection of the fertilizers and pesticides when they were delivered to NIA Regional Office X, the defects on their quality and specifications could have been discovered at that time,” the resolution read.