Excessive cell phone bills of NCCT execs, employees questioned

MANILA, Philippines - Seven officials and employees of the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), an office under the Department of Education (DepEd), incurred excessive cellular phone bills last year.

The Commission on Audit (COA) said the agency spent a total of P111,516.84 for the payment of cellular phone plans for their officers and staff in 2011.

Of the amount, P67,116.84 was found to be unauthorized “due to absence of legal basis and non-conformity with the DepEd Office Memorandum dated Feb. 6, 2007” which refers to an order issued five years ago which regulates the procurement, issuance and usage of mobile phones.

In a report released yesterday, state auditors said seven officials and employees were accorded with benefits in excess of the limitations set.

The COA report identified those who had excessive phone bills as Frank Rivera, an executive director; Desideria Atienza, an administrative officer; Uzziel Calizar, an accountant; Patrick Jay Veril, a project development officer; Erlinda King, an administrative assistant; Eljun Jumamil, a bookkeeper; and Emilio Bacuetes, an office staff member.

“We recommended that management observe the limitations set by the DepEd, to stop payment and institute refund of those excessive and unauthorized payments,” the audit team said.

NCCT officials tried to reason that the cellular phone plans the officers and staff are using are a continuation or a renewed plan of the personnel since its activation in 2007 when it was still under the Office of the President and that they did not receive any contrary comment from the previous auditor.

“The audit team wants to stress that, the long time and uninterrupted usage will not validate any unauthorized claims/payments. Likewise, the Commission on Audit shall not be barred to take actions in audit on matters not previously acted upon by previous auditors because this will in effect impose limitations on the jurisdiction of the commission as mandated by the Constitution,” state auditors explained in response.

“Further, provisions of regular mobile or cell phone allowance to all its officers and staff is not justified on the ground that the agency is conducting workshops/orientation and conferences throughout the Philippines because these activities are not conducted on a regular basis and not everyone was involved in the conduct of these activities,” the audit team added.

The NCCT management further contended that things are not clear to them, as to whether they are bound by the rules and regulations issued by the DepEd, and that they believe they are independent from it.

Again in response, the audit team stressed since the NCCT operates under DepEd supervision, it is assumed that all guidelines or any implementing rules and regulations set by the latter are also applicable to them, and unless the management can show legal basis that can justify their claim, the audit team holds on to its previous stand.

The NCCT management, still appealing, requested that they be allowed to continue the monthly plan until its expiration in February 2013 because it will cost them P14,000 each to pre-terminate the plan, but state auditors said it “cannot be given due consideration.”

“It is our stand that they can continue with the monthly plan but now at their own personal expense,” the COA report said.

The NCCT is a government agency created by Republic Act No. 8370 or the Children’s Television Act of 1997 which is tasked to promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being of children and the youth through child-friendly television programs.