Council defines maintenance expenses

CEBU, Philippines – In accordance with the mandate of accountability and transparency especially in the use of government funds, Cebu City Councilors Jose Daluz III and Noel Wenceslao want to define and prescribe the allocation intended to defray the expenses in the city's legislative branch.

Daluz, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, said there is a necessity to come up with guidelines so there will be no contradiction with the account-ing department on where to charge the item Other Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (OMOOE).

Under the guidelines, the OMOOE for the Legislative Account will include the expenses during the staff and committee meetings, seminars and conferences, emergency purchases, expenses for barangay meetings and consultations, sponsorship of city and religious activities.

Also included are the subscription to professional journals, magazines and other materials, and other similar expenses not supported by a regular budget alloca-tion.

Daluz said that the release of allocations under the OMOOE will require the approval of the council's presiding officer.

The disbursement and liquidation of the authorized expenses shall be in accordance with the standard accounting procedures and COA rules and regulations, he stated. (FREEMAN)