Davide on disallowances: Capitol will collect from Gwen’s people

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III will uphold the recommendation of the Commission  on  Audit  for Capitol to recover the P540 million budget for infrastructure projects that the previous administration allegedly disbursed illegally. 

This despite the move of lawyers of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia questioning COA’s legal basis in making the recommendation.

Davide said the matter has been referred to the Local Finance Committee, which would determine the available legal options that the provincial government can take. He said Capitol will start sending demand letters to concerned officials of the previous administration.

“Tan-awon nato asa kutob ang liability. But ang ato gyod basehan ang recommendation sa COA,” he told reporters.

COA earlier sent a notice to Capitol about the disallowances in the appropriation and disbursement of funds for the contractors of projects implemented between 2008 and 2011, which were allegedly not authorized by the Provincial Board.

COA noted that there were 58 infrastructure projects paid for by Capitol totaling P540 million despite the absence of PB’s authority, which allegedly violated the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines and the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Board Member Grecilda Sanchez who heads the Committee on Budget and Appropriations said the province will collect from accountable officials during Garcia’s term.

In a previous interview, Garcia’s lawyer Lito Astillero, questioned COA’s legal basis, saying that the previous administration followed the process and adhered to the law.

He said an appropriation ordinance covered the projects implemented during Garcia’s time and that there was no need for another legislative act to be made upon payment.

This means that if there was an appropriation act passed by the PB, it also contained the directive of the payment of the goods and services, Astillero said.  (FREEMAN)