In response to widespread criticism, the Chamber of Deputies is insisting that the purchases made with RD$176 million pesos for Mothers’ Day gifts to their constituents were in line with Law 340-06.
A press release by the Chamber says that the process was supervised by its procurement committee made up of five members and that the articles were bought from 19 companies that could be verified from the document attached to the press release.
The note went on to say that any member of the public could check the Register of State Providers and see that all of the purchases were made via the Integrated Financial Management System.
The release is in response to investigative journalism feature published by Diario Libre looking into irregularities in the companies that were favored with the tender for the purchase of the appliances. A Diario Libre newspaper editorial also highlighted that donating appliances is not one of the official functions of state legislators.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/5/27/323557/La-Camara-de-Diputados-defiende-la-compra-de-electrodomesticos-para-el-Dia