Lapu dads approve purchase of 40 computers out of 100 units requested by Ahong

The Lapu-Lapu City Hall. | CDN Digital file photo

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines- Members of the opposition-led Lapu-Lapu City Council approved the purchase of only 40 of the 100 computer units requested by Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.

But the Council approved the purchase of all of the 15 printers that Chan asked for.

Councilor Rico Amores, an ally of Rep. Paz Radaza, said they saw the need for the immediate purchase of the 40 computers and 15 printers since these will be used at the city’s vaccination centers and for the online registration of vaccinees.

“Para ni sa atoang (These will be used at our) vaccination site. The purpose of which is for the registration and gathering of data,” Amores said.

However, Amores clarified that they did not turn down the purchase of the 60 other computers.  They merely deferred approval of the proposed purchase because of the failure of Louie delos Santos, head of the city’s Information Technology (IT) department, to justify the need and urgency of the purchase.

Of the 60 computers, 30 will be used for the city’s 24/7 hotline service while another 30 is for its e-Library centers.

“He (Delos Santos) was not able to explain fully asa i-accommodate ang additional computers, so ang chairman sa committee on finance, in the person of honorable Bobit Hiyas, gi-defer niya for further clarification,” Amores said.

During the Council session on Thursday, a question was raised as to how the 30 computers will fit inside city’s 27/7 hotline service office considering that said office has limited space.

The 30 computers will already be in addition to the 15 computers that are now being used at said office, Amore said.

The same concern was also raised on the proposed purchase of 30 more computer units for use at the city’s e-Library center.

“Way klarong kabutangan, unya wala po’y klarong justification kung 24/7 ba gyud ang staff diha,” he said.

(It is was unclear where they will put the new computers and they were unable to explain to us if the center will also be manned 24/7.)

Amores said they could not find logic in buying additional computers if the city do not have the needed personnel to use these.

Still, he gave the assurance that the Council is open to consider the purchase of the 60 other computer units after the executive department is able to address their queries during their next session on August 19. / dcb