Outgoing barangay officials yet to submit financial statements

CEBU, Philippines - With barely 17 days before the new-elected barangay officials assume office, not one of the city’s 80 barangays has submitted their complete financial statements and records to the city accounting office, as required under the Local Government Code.

City accounting financial control division chief Agnes Tabares once again reminded outgoing barangay officials of their obligations and warned that their salary for the month of November will be withheld if they fail to fulfill the same.

Tabares said most of the barangays have yet to submit their financial statements, although several have made submissions, but are yet to complete the documents.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on all city and municipal mayors to ensure that financial records of the barangays are turned over properly to the incoming officials. The DILG also directed the mayors to help ensure that properties of the barangays are properly inventoried before the new officials assume office.

Quoting Memorandum Circular No. 2010-127 issued by DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo, DILG city director Patricio Gabuya said “city and municipal mayors must direct their respective punong barangays to conduct property, financial and records inventories. These records must all be turned over to the incoming punong barangays on or before their assumption to office.”

“As city and municipal mayors have a supervisory role over barangays, they are expected to make sure that outgoing punong barangays under them should effect a proper turnover of records, properties and equipment,” Gabuya said.

The outgoing barangay officials, the primary accountable officers for all government property assigned or issued to them, are also required to secure property clearance from the barangay treasurer who, in turn, shall secure the same from the incoming barangay captain. (FREEMAN)