By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

To adapt to the slashing of the budget of local government units (LGUs) across the country, the Negros Occidental provincial government has implemented a centralized purchasing of its supplies and fuel needs.

Provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said they are meeting with the departments and they will give them the proposed cuts in their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), the government expenditures to support the operations of government agencies such as expenses for supplies and materials; transportation and travel; and utilities and repairs, to make the necessary adjustments.

“We are hoping that they will not feel the adverse effects because by now we have already made a system,” Diaz said.

He said they are implementing a system that is more efficient for the proper use of office supplies and fuel.

“All their needs are now in our management information system, so it is easier for them to request,” Diaz explained.

He added the delivery of supplies to provincial government departments and offices is on a monthly or quarterly basis.

This will ensure that their offices will be overcrowded with supplies occupying the tables for government employees that sometimes go to waste, he said.

“Our procurement of office supplies is now centralized through the Procurement Services Depot, so it will not be time-consuming like in the past which was inefficient,” he pointed out.

He also said that the bidding of office supplies is in bulk and the releasing and delivery of supplies will be done personally per office.

Also, as for their fuel needs, some departments that are finding it difficult to process will authorize the Provincial Administrator’s Office to do it for them, Diaz said.
“With the implementation of the system, as required by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, we expect that there will be efficiency and proper use of our budget,” he added./DGB, WDJ