Two towns appoint unqualified budget, accounting chiefs

CEBU, Philippines – The neighboring municipalities of Barili and Dumanjug in southern Cebu were told to hire qualified budget officer and accountant, respectively.

This after the Commission on Audit, in its audit report covering year 2009, found out that the designated employees do not possess the required qualification which is in violation of the Civil Service Commission guidelines on designation.

Based on the guidelines, the employees to be designated should hold permanent appointments to career positions and designees can only be designated to positions within the level they are occupying.

Jean Fat was designated as budget officer of Barili by the late Mayor Roberto Alquizola in June 9, 2003. She holds the position up to the present even if her item is bookkeeper.

Fat is receiving monthly Representation and Traveling Allowance at a rate equivalent to that of the department head.

"She is not qualified to handle the position pursuant to the qualification standards set in Sec. 475 of RA 7160 and that of Civil Service Commission, MC No. 1 s. 1997. Her position being a bookkeeper is in the level 1 position pursuant to the above provision and is not qualified to handle the position of a Municipal Budget Officer, a level 2 position," the state auditors said.

In Dumanjug, the approved appointment dated March 23, 1993 of Avelina Loreno revealed that she was appointed Accounting Clerk II effective April 26, 1993.

She was then designated as Municipal Accountant by then Mayor Cesar Baricuatro which entitled her to receive the monthly RATA equivalent to that of a department head.

The state auditors also found out that the employee is not qualified to handle the position.

COA told the respective municipal mayor to take immediate action in filling up the vacant position with a qualified personnel and stop the grant of RATA and revoke the designation as both are not qualified to the position. (FREEMAN)