COA finds PCGG officials excessively using mobile phones

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit cited officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) for failing to regulate the excessive use of mobile telephones that cost the agency more than P200,000 a month.

COA auditors, in their report on PCGG’s 2007 operations, discovered that PCGG commissioners and the head of the legal department had failed to observe monthly allocations they set themselves.

“In the 2006 Annual Audit Report, one of the observations was the significant increase of mobile telephone expenses by 48 percent compared to 2005 mobile expenses. Despite last year’s observation, it was noted in our audit that some officials with PCGG-issued cellular phones still exceeded the amount allocated to them,” the auditors said.

COA identified the four erring PCGG executives as former commissioner Nicasio Conti, who stepped down from his post after the lapse of the three-month extension given to him by Malacañang last August, who exceeded his allocation by P111,978.10; current PCGG officer-in-charge Commissioner Narciso Nario, P11,548.19; Commissioner Ricardo Abcede, P530; and Jay Miguel, P103,736.07.

COA noted that PCGG had issued Office Order No. CLS-001-2005 way back in 2005 as a result of President Arroyo’s then directive for austerity measures in government.

“Office Order No. CLS-001-2005 dated August 25, 2005 was issued to rationalize the use of cellular phones of the PCGG pursuant to cost reduction measures in the government. It specified therein the monthly allocations given to the officials and employees concerned and that any and all amounts in excess of the monthly allocations shall be paid by the end-user and shall be his responsibility or his authorized representative to pay the excess charges directly to Globe and/or Smart, in coordination with a representative from the Administration Division to avoid possible disconnection,” COA observed.

COA stressed that the PCGG order provided that there will be no more justifications for exceeding the limit.

“Certifications that the phone calls were made in connection with the performance of their duties were submitted. However, Office Order No. CLS-001-05 stated that justifying the excess charges shall no longer be allowed and any and all amounts in excess of the monthly allocation shall be paid by the end-user,” COA noted.

CLS-001-2005 set a maximum monthly allocation for mobile phone use of P10,000.

In the COA audit of PCGG’s 2006 operations, COA had already questioned the “significant increase” of mobile telephone expenses of P331,040.

Total mobile phone expenses ballooned to P1,017,774.41 from P686,734.28 in 2005.