Irregularities in grant of bonuses in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has found some irregularities in the granting of productivity enhancement incentive (PEI) and Collective Negotiation Agreement incentive bonus to elected officials, department and division heads in the western town of Balamban.

In 2010, the municipality budgeted P30,000 each or a total amount of P4.680 million as PEI for elected officials and employees, but the Department of Budget and Management found the granting as irregular and excessive disbursement of government funds.

Guidelines of the budget department provide that government personnel shall be entitled to the PEI at a maximum of P10,000 each provided that the personnel are still in the service as of November 30, 2010 and have rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four months of service during the year.

Furthermore, a department circular also provides that the grant of the PEI to LGU personnel shall be determined by the council subject to the Personal Services Limitation and depending on the LGU financial capability.

Based on the list of payroll for the payment of PEI, Mayor Ace Binghay claimed P1.620 million instead of P540,000; Vice Mayor Rosario Binghay claimed P450,000 instead of P150,000; municipal engineer Marissa Narvios claimed P1.5 million instead of P500,000; and social welfare officer Lucina Milan claimed P1.110 million instead of P370,000.

“We recommend that all concerned officials and employees be directed to refund the P20,000 excess amount of PEI received,” the COA report reads.

If the personnel concerned will not heed, the state auditors warned that they will be held liable.   COA also ordered eight municipal councilors and seven department and division heads to refund the P23,000 they received each as CNA Incentive Bonus.

According to COA, the P345,000 granted to them violated the Budget Circular and can be considered irregular disbursement of government funds as they were not considered rank and file personnel.

Among those who received the CNA bonus were councilors Dave John Karamihan, Gretel Marie Borgonia, Eliezer Climaco, Avelino Pilapil, John Ismael Borgonia, Emmanuel Jo, Norberto Bardenas and Gemma Monong.

The department heads directed to return the money are municipal assessor Tita Yray, municipal accountant Ma. Ophelia Esdrelon, municipal registrar Rosma Tangub, municipal treasurer Leonisa Completo, municipal building official Flordelia Yray, engineer Marissa Narvios and municipal environment officer Merlita Milan.

“We recommend that the officials concerned be directed to refund immediately the amount they received. Otherwise, all those who authorized the payment of the subject allowance shall be held personally liable for the amount involved,” the report reads.  (FREEMAN)