The Department of Energy (DOE) has confirmed that it paid a local souvenir supplier, AmiananPH, for ASEAN‑related gift sets. In a statement released Friday night, the agency said it delivered a payment check to the supplier on 30 October 2026, ahead of the 30‑working‑day deadline set in its Terms of Reference. The clarification came after AmiananPH posted a complaint on social media alleging that the DOE and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) had delayed payments for orders of souvenir items. The shop claimed that CHED had left its bill unpaid for nine months, while the DOE had not settled its obligation nearly a month after delivery. AmiananPH said it delivered the DOE’s orders on 4 October, after being assured that payment could be expedited within 15 days. “We delivered the items on 4 October, but they initially promised that payments could be expedited within 15 days. That was why I accepted the order,” the shop said in a message translated from Filipino. The DOE maintains that the agreed processing period was 30 working days and that it had regularly updated the supplier on the payment status. “The DOE has maintained open and regular communication with the supplier throughout the agreed 30‑working‑day processing period,” it said. The agency added that it informed AmiananPH during a visit on 29 October that payment was being processed as scheduled. AmiananPH confirmed that the DOE had reached out and informed it that the check was ready for pickup just 14 hours after the public complaint. The payment covers artisan gift sets distributed to delegates and guests during the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting held in Pasay City from 5 to 9 October.
Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune