Cost of CNU employees’ travel abroad irregular

CEBU, Philippines -  The training expenses in the amount of P6,576,500 for the 32 officials and employees of the Cebu Normal University in Vietnam, Japan and Australia last year were found irregular.

The Commission on Audit found the disbursement of funds violated Executive Order No. 248 as amended by E.O. No. 248-A and 298, which prescribes the rules and regulations on foreign travel.

Section 7 of EO No. 248-A provides that travels and assignments shall cover only those which are urgent and extremely necessary, will involve the minimum expenditure and are expected to bring immediate benefit to the country and shall refer only to those under the category of conferences, special missions and other non-study trips.

These include conferences or seminars sponsored by foreign governments or international government organizations to which the Philippine Government is committed or invited to send representatives or participants.

“From the foregoing provision, it is noticeable that the purpose of the foreign travel undertaken by CNU personnel does not fall under any of the above-mentioned purposes for it has no invitation addressed to the agency inviting participants (issued by the foreign country) nor was there an acceptance of nominees as participants (issued by the foreign country),” read the 2013 audit report.

COA further said it cannot ascertain the validity and reasonableness of the cost of the training and travel expenses since there was no logistic information provided.

All payments were all paid to Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).

SEAMEO Innotech is a regional intergovernmental organization established among governments of Southeast Asian countries to promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture in the region.

During the year, the CNU requested for assistance from SEAMEO to develop the capabilities of CNU faculty through its learning programs such as the one in Vietnam on Capacity Building and Certification Course for Flexible Learning Tutors; Professionalism Development and Scientific Training Program for Mathematics and Natural Sciences Faculty in Japan; and the Internationalization of Teacher Education and Research Management in the 21st Century in Australia.

Accordingly, letters of agreement and memoranda of understanding were entered into by and between the university president of CNU and the center director of SEAMEO Innotech for the development of the said learning programs.

On August 31, 2004, the Office of the President issued Administrative Order No. 103 directing all government agencies to adopt the austerity measures in the government.

The CNU management believed the suspension of foreign travel under AO 103 is no longer applicable because the said order was not included in the rules to be observed concerning foreign travels in the General Appropriations Act for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.

They also believed that the trainings would not be covered by EO 248 since the travel outside the Philippines was only incidental, which COA begged to disagree.

COA said CNU management should follow strictly the rules and regulations pertaining to foreign travels and adhere to the adoption of austerity measures in the government. — NSA  (FREEMAN)