Barangay treasurers ordered to submit financial statements

CEBU, Philippines – The city accounting department has ordered all barangay treasurers to submit their complete financial statements and records before the new set of barangay officials assume office on December.

At least 32 barangay treasurers yesterday met with the city accounting personnel, bookkeepers and verifiers to settle the problems and issues concerning the suspension of the honoraria of some barangay officials this month because of problems in their financial statements.

In order to prevent another problem in the next remaining two months, city accounting financial control division chief Agnes Tabares told the treasurers to complete the transactions related to the financial reports and statements for the year 2010 otherwise their honoraria will be withheld.

The advice was immediately welcomed by Remy Alegre, president of the Association of Barangay Treasurers in the Philippines-Cebu City chapter.

Tabares said this is to ensure proper turn-over of all financial records of the barangay by the outgoing officials to the incoming ones.

The city accounting department required the treasurers to submit documents for the transactions beginning January to June for their honoraria of the month of October to be released.

Their honoraria for the month of November will only be released in the first week of December if documents will be completed for the month of July to November.

"Kini aron paglikay sa paglangay-langay sa ubang barangays nga dugay mo-liquidate ug mohimo sa ilang report," Tabares told The Freeman.

The Commission on Audit earlier required the barangay officials to submit their financial reports for 2007 to 2009.

As of yesterday, only 17 out of 80 barangays have complied with the order COA. These include T. Padilla, Mabolo, Cogon Ramos, Lusaran, Mabini, Basak San Nicolas, Caretta, Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, San Nicolas Proper, Sambag I, Busay, Pulangbato, Guadalupe, Quiot-Pardo and Luz.

COA has withheld the honoraria of the officials from the barangays that have not complied with the order.

"Wala lang sa ta'y hangyo-ay karon. Kaning pag-withhold sa honorarium ninyo ato na ning gisabutan kaniadto pa," Tabares told the treasurers during the meeting at the social hall. (FREEMAN)