By Paulo Loreto Lim

In response to claims native chickens delivered to beneficiaries of the Iloilo City Integrated Food Production Program last month were “defective,” Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III ordered the formation of a committee to look into the matter.

According to the order, a fact-finding investigation will be conducted, wherein a report will be filed within 15 days from the start of the probe.

The committee will be led by Atty. Milagros Hechanova of City Legal Office and includes Atty. Fhymore Gascon, Atty. Mark Piad, Atty. Jahn Rey Gonzaga, Atty. Love Faith Hayco, Shayra Mar Chavez, and Esther Casidsid.

Last month, Espinosa called a meeting of relevant officials and issued orders to the Internal Audit Service (IAS) office and the City Agriculturist regarding the situation.

200 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries and farmers from the city’s Jaro district received a total of 1,000 native chickens through the city program last month.

Recipients complained the chickens they received were underweight.

According to the program terms of reference (TOR), native chickens must weigh at least 300 grams.

The city also provided 1,875 native chickens to 375 recipients from the Mandurriao, Molo, and La Paz districts earlier that month./PLL, WDJ