Abattoir’s failure to issue ORs hit

CEBU, Philippines -  Instead of official receipts (ORs), customers at the Talisay City slaughterhouse are issued unnumbered ruled papers serving as temporary receipts (TRs), the Commission on Audit noted in a report.

COA discovered that at least in 2014, collectors from the Talisay City Treasurer's Office had been issuing TRs instead of ORs to customers of the city-owned abattoir.

The audit body found this out upon verification of collection last December.

"These receipts were simply unnumbered ruled papers containing the signature and handwritten entries of the collectors, stating the animals slaughtered and their corresponding fees," the report read.

The report added that according to the treasury personnel, the issuance of unnumbered TRs was made during cash examinations, when all issued and unissued ORs are to be presented to the auditors. After the cash out, ORs are reportedly issued to replace the TRs.

But upon verification, COA learned that TRs were issued not only during cash examinations but “also on other dates and for a considerable period of time already.”

Collectors were found to issue TRs whenever they would run out of ORs, COA said.

During check out, customers of the slaughterhouse would just have to present the original copy of the TR, gate pass and meat inspection certificate to the guard on duty, who then records the same on the logbook.

ORs are issued based on the duplicate copies of the TRs, and are given to the customers upon presentation or return of the previously-issued/original TRs. 

COA said the practice is illegal since it contradicts to Section 68 of the Presidential Decree No. 1445 which provides that "no payment shall be received by a collecting officer without immediately issuing an official receipt in acknowledgment."

The report said the law provides that no instance shall TRs be issued to acknowledge the receipt of public funds. According to COA, this may be lead to possible misuse or misappropriation.

Furthermore, auditors stressed that there is a risk that collections acknowledged by TRs that have not been issued with ORs will not be deposited to the government’s coffers.

Mayor Johnny De los Reyes promised to conduct an investigation on COA’s observation.

He said the practice may raise suspicions, especially on the amounts appearing in the TRs with that indicated or transferred in the ORs.  (FREEMAN)