Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has filed a formal charge for grave misconduct against the city agriculturist and preventively suspended him for 60 days effective Friday, July 21.
City Agriculturist Goldwyn Nifras was charged for the unauthorized rental of a city government tractor that was donated by the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, without the issuance of receipts.
Nifras denied that he rented out the tractor. Payments made by the farmers were for the operator of of the tractor,, not for rent, and it did not go to him, Nifras said.
The city agriculturist said he will file an answer and denial to the allegations against him.
The tractor was reportedly used by members of the Highly Urbanized City Agricultural and Fisheries Council.
Three officials of the group alleged that they were charged P2,500 per hectare for the use of the tractor.
Nifras said it is a lie that P2,500 was charged for the use of the tractor.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting said Friday, July 21, that the collection of rent for the use of the tractor by the farmers was unauthorized that is why Nifras was charged.
The alleged tractor rental has allegedly been happening since 2021.*