Until Previous Assistance Is Properly Accounted: CH withholds aid for elderly in Cordova

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has withheld the release of cash assistance for the senior citizens in Cordova until the local government is able to correct the discrepancies found by the Commission on Audit in the previous aid granted to them for the uniforms of liaison officers who served during the 12th ASEAN Summit in 2007.

 Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that the town of Cordova has 90 days to correct the deficiencies otherwise he will not release the P5 million financial assistance to its senior citizens.

The city government granted P500,000 financial aid to Cordova in December 2006 for the purchase of uniforms of the liaison officers who served during the ASEAN summit.

However, COA noted some discrepancies in Cordova’s liquidation report of the amount.

According to the COA notice of suspension of audit, the amount of P500, 000 was spent for the purchase of uniforms of liaison officers but the liquidation report is lacking several requirements.

Lawyer Eva Cabrera, audit team leader, noted that Cordova failed to attach the Memorandum of Agreement entered into which provides among others the guidelines on the utilization of the financial aid.

The certified true copy of the official receipt acknowledging the receipt of financial aid was not also submitted.

Cabrera said that the disbursement voucher, purchase request, purchase order and acceptance and inspection report were not completely filled-out.

The voucher, purchase request, purchase order have no numbers while the date of the check was not indicated. Likewise, the acceptance and inspection request has no name of supplier, purchase order number and was not dated.

The program of works submitted was not approved by municipal Mayor Arleigh Sitoy.

The mode of procurement used in the purchase of uniforms was direct contracting to Ozar Dress Shop, however, there was no price quotation submitted.

The designated liaison officers which allegedly pulled out from the offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine National Police and OPEX have no office orders from their respective heads of office designating them of the job.

“The list of recipients of uniforms should clearly specify the office and their designation opposite their names,” the COA report reads.

COA has determined that the persons responsible for the compliance of the deficiencies are Mayor Sitoy who approved the payment, Municipal Accountant Jaime Sumagang who certified the completeness of supporting documents and payee Danilo Booc who received the payment.

“Items suspended in audit which are not settled within 90 days from receipt shall become a disallowance pursuant to Section 82 of Presidential Decree No. 1445,” Cabrera said in the notice of suspension.

Osmeña said that the municipality of Cordova especially the persons determined as responsible for the deficiencies have 90 days to comply, otherwise, the city will not release the assistance for its senior citizen constituents.

“No funds for senior citizens until they clear this out first,” he said.

Osmeña earlier promised P2,000 cash assistance to each qualified senior citizen in Cordova.  (FREEMAN NEWS)