BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The city government has deferred the retrieval of several office furniture and equipment that former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog donated to the Museo Iloilo.
In his press briefing yesterday, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the furniture and equipment will remain in the museum while the Commission on Audit (COA) has yet to issue a legal opinion on the donation.
“If COA says it is legal, then we will leave it (equipment) there, or we might even add (more equipment). Ang akon lang, manigurado lang ko basi kasuhan naman ako,” said Treñas.
The mayor announced over the weekend that the city government would recall several pieces of office furniture and equipment donated to the museum. He reasoned that the properties purchased using public funds cannot be given to a private foundation.
The mayor stressed that the General Services Office’s inventory division notified them of the equipment purchased using public funds since last year.
“Public funds cannot be used for the benefit of a private foundation like Museo Iloilo,” the mayor stressed.
These recalled items include projectors, desktop computers, cabinets, tables, chairs, air-conditioning units, and closed-circuit television, among others.
But the mayor changed his mind after reading the legal opinion of lawyer Dominador Tersol, former regional director of the Commission on Audit (COA).
Tersol clarified that the donation was valid since such was concurred by the City Council during the incumbency of former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Tersol cited as the basis of the validity of the donation the COA Circular No. 92-386, which prescribes rules and regulations on supply and property management in the local governments.
Section 189 of COA Circular No. 92-386 (Donations to Charitable, Scientific, Educational or Cultural Association) states that “in exceptional cases and for meritorious reasons, disposable government property may be to donated to charitable, scientific, educational and cultural associations with the approval of the sanggunian concerned.”
Likewise, Joint Circular No. 2024-1 signed by COA and the Department of Budget and Management provides guidelines on the disposal of government properties.
Sec. 4.1 (Donation) of the joint memo states that “properties recommended for disposal may be donated to foreign governments, and the local and foreign non-government charitable, scientific, educational or cultural institutions/associations in exceptional and meritorious cases.”
In case of donation to local institutions/associations, the DBM shall inform the donor agency of its approval to proceed with the donation.
In a separate statement issued on Sunday evening, Treñas said the General Services Office (GSO) inventory division implemented the retrieval of donated properties currently held by Museo Iloilo, a museum privately run by the Iloilo Cultural Research Foundation.
“These donations, made during previous administrations, are now being retrieved due to the fundamental principle that public property cannot be used for private purposes, a principle that is enshrined in our laws and upheld by the Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 1989-296 dated January 27, 1989,” the mayor said.
“While we acknowledge the good intentions behind the original donation of these properties and the affirmation of their validity by former COA Regional Director Tersol, our priority is to adhere to this fundamental principle and the prevailing COA guidelines,” the mayor stressed.
While waiting for a fair and conclusive resolution regarding the appropriate disposition of these retrieved items, the mayor said they opted to defer the same to the expertise of the COA Regional Office through the Audit Team Leader, who will provide a final determination.
“The Iloilo City Government remains steadfast in its commitment to responsible governance and the judicious use of public resources. We trust that this course of action will serve the best interests of our constituents and contribute to the overall well-being of our beloved city,” the mayor added.
Museo Iloilo, located along Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City, exhibits a collection of archeological, historical, ethnographical craft and tribal folk arts relating to Western Visayas.
The public museum is now supervised by the Iloilo Cultural Research Foundation, Inc., a private foundation led by Gina Agnes Sarabia-Espinosa as president.
The Bureau of Travels and Tourist Industry, which later became the Department of Tourism, signed a lease agreement with ICRFI on Oct. 5, 1972, for the Museo Iloilo. ICRFI registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a private foundation on Oct. 30, 1990.
ICRFI’s president, Gina is the wife of former city mayor Jose “Joe” Espinosa III, who is reportedly running for congressman against Treñas’ executive assistant and daughter, Raisa Treñas-Chu, in the midterm elections next year.
Treñas squelched speculations the recall was politically motivated, adding the Museo Iloilo notified the city government of its willingness to return the items since last year, although it begged for a delay.
“It’s supposed to be early last year but Museo Iloilo asked for the delay of return. Nothing to do with elections,” the mayor told reporters in a Viber message.
The Iloilo Museum aims to preserve and develop cultural education, research, and tourism by safeguarding the display of Western Visayas native culture and history. The exhibits include a collection of historical, ethnographical craft, archeological, and tribal folk arts relating to the region./PN
