on the DepEd noodles scam

Casiño fears Malacanang, DepEd intent on reviving P427 noodles scam

News Release
June 26, 2009

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño welcomed yesterday's filing of formal charges against DepEd officials and others involved in the controversial P427 million noodle feeding program even as he expressed fears that efforts are underway to revive the anomalous contract.

The contract with Jeverps Manufacturing Corp. was earlier cancelled by the DepEd following an embarrassing investigation by the Senate which revealed an overprice of up to P15 for each of the 19,418,880 packs of 100g instant noodles. Yesterday's complaint filed in the Office of the Ombudsman included several DepEd officials led by Sec. Jesli Lapus as respondents.

Casiño said, however, that formal charges notwithstanding, efforts are apparently underway to revive the contract.

"Sec. Lapus' statements reveal that he still considers the P427 million contract with Jeverps regular and legal and that it was merely cancelled to avoid a possible temporary restraining order from the courts. In other words, it was just a tactical retreat," said Casiño, author of House Bill 1126 directing the House Committee on Good Government to investigate the anomaly.

Casiño said he was greatly bothered by paid advertisements that appeared in various newspapers last week showing Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III endorsing DepEd's noodle feeding program even after the contract had been cancelled. Titled "Noodles For A Healthy Start," the third paragraph of the ad states that "prolonging the noodle controversy will only compromise the health and nutrition of school children especially the malnourished." (Please see the ad from the June 21 issue of the Phil. Daily Inquirer.)

"I wonder why Malacanang and the DOH would bother to come out with paid ads endorsing a cancelled DepEd program. Are they preparing the public for a revival of the overpriced project? Are they also interested in the potential multi-million kickback the project offers? Is the apparent 'tongpats' part of their 2010 campaign kitty?" he asked.

"My informants tell me Jeverps is planning to sue DepEd for canceling the contract and DepEd is just waiting to enter into an amicable settlement with the company. This news is indeed distressing," he said.

Casiño's advise to DepEd Sec. Jesli Lapus: "If you truly believe that instant noodles are the solution to malnutrition among our school children, then immediately rebid the project and make sure the more reputable companies participate in the bidding."###