NEWLY appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat on Tuesday asked Tourism Promotions Board Cesar Montano to explain why he allegedly paid P80 million in full for the “Buhay Carinderia” project, one of the government’s future programs for food tourism.
Reacting to a column in one of the broadsheets, Puyat said she would summon Montano and ask him if the project had undergone proper bidding.
“I have to look at all the contracts because I’ll be implementing all these programs,” Romulo-Puyat told ANC.
“If I find out there’s a contract that did not undergo bidding, I will have to cancel.”
Romulo-Puyat said she will check all existing contracts if those had undergone proper bidding.
In his column, Philippine Star Columnist Boo Chanco wrote that Montano paid in full the amount of P80 million to a Linda Legaspi to organize an event that would feature Filipino street food and eateries.
In an 11-page Memorandum of Agreement acquired by the Manila Standard, the P80-million Buhay Carinderia project was given to Marylindbert International Inc. president and owner Erlinda Legaspi.
The deal consists of three stages: where the Carinderia will be held in North Luzon (Phase 1); Central Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao (Phase 2); and Region 4A, Region4B, and NCR (Phase3).
“Buhay Carinderia…Redefined event/project will play an important role in the promotion of gastronomic tourism, an emerging phenomenon that is developing into a new tourism product built on the image and brand of the destination,” the deal says.
The deal was under financial sponsorship and not through bidding.
“TPB has agreed to the request of the first party [Cesar Montano] to sponsor the Buhay Carinderia…Redefined event/project to be its sole presenter/sponsor,” the deal says
Based on the deal, the P80 million was supposed to be released in four tranches.
The first tranche was given during the MOA signing on March 15 amounting to P12 million plus VAT.
The second tranche was P28 million plus VAT if Legaspi was able to complete or submit the program flow, forum content, exhibit layout, contest mechanic and communication plan.
The third payment or P32 million plus VAT will be made if Legaspi is able to deliver the Final Creatives for Merchandising.
And the fourth tranche amounting to P8 million plus vat will be paid by the end of the “Buhay Carinderia” project.
The source, who asked for anonymity, said the three payments had already been given to Legaspi.
However, the MOA appeared to be questionable because the deliverables, such as photos, documentations, among other things, should not cost P80 million.
Romulo-Puyat said Montano would also have to clarify allegations that he attended an official speaking engagement in the United States, but told the audience that he would have to leave earlier to catch a Broadway show.
“I have to ask Cesar himself what happened. Did you really just talk for two minutes? I believe there are two sides to the story. I’m sure he has the proper explanation,” she said.
Montano was earlier allegedly involved in an irregularity when a report came out that the former actor turned public servant had allegedly entered millions of non-related tourism projects and hired individuals consisting of his stuntmen, friends, relatives in his team who were earning salaries between P14,000 to P80,000.
But Montano however denied the allegations.
The actor, is on a hold-over capacity as his term as TPB chief has already expired.
But Romulo-Puyat said it wouold be up to tourism stakeholders if his tenure would be extended.
“Under the Tourism Act of 2009, it is the Tourism Congress of the Philippines that elects a chair. The law says it is the private sector who will elect the members of the TPB, so to me, it’s nothing personal. Whoever they elect, I will follow,” she said.
Romulo-Puyat replaced Wanda Teo as Tourism secretary earlier this month after the former tourism chief figured in a P60-million advertisement scandal.