THE Cebu City Council has raised concerns over a P593,300 purchase order for a buffet with two snacks, intended for the Cebu City Cooperative Development Council. A key issue is the eligibility of the chosen supplier.
During its regular session on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Councilor and Mayor-elect Nestor Archival questioned a resolution proposed by Councilor Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella. The resolution sought to charge the City Government a total of P988,300, which also covered the food and venue for the Cooperative Summit and year-end assessment. Councilor Pancrasio Esparis presented the resolution on behalf of Labella.
Archival specifically voiced his concerns about the supplier, Cebu Best Value Trading, asking if it was indeed a restaurant. “Cebu Best Value Trading is a trading company. How is it a restaurant?” Archival questioned, speaking in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Councilor Rey Gealon explained that despite “Trading” in its name, the supplier had provided food for previous cooperative development assemblies. “On the supplier’s name that it is trading, perhaps the business is fashioned under the name of trading, nonetheless it provided for the buffet or food for the participants of these assemblies,” Gealon clarified.
However, Councilor Joy Augustus Young stressed the need for clarification, recalling past instances where food suppliers for city events were found to be unqualified. “In the past years, what I always hear is that the suppliers there are not qualified. You check where their office is, there’s no office. It’s in Manila, then when they go there, there’s no office in Manila,” Young stated in a mix of Cebuano and English. He also cited a local example where a bidder, claiming two offices, turned out to operate a meat stall at the Carbon Public Market.
Young emphasized that such situations naturally raise concerns for councilors, especially for Archival. “We should investigate this to be clear about what kind of supplier this is, whether they are qualified or not. We don’t have a problem with whoever supplies, but the issue is when just anyone supplies who isn’t qualified. They just lie,” he asserted.
Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa also noted the absence of an invoice in the resolution.
In response, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, serving as the acting presiding officer, said that an online check showed Cebu Best Value Trading also supplies food for the Cebu Provincial Government. She further explained that the Department of Trade and Industry allows businesses to use “trading” in their names even if they provide other services.
As a result of the discussions and concerns, Esparis moved for the deferment of the resolution, putting its approval on hold for further clarification and verification. / JPS