COA sees unrecorded city expenses

CEBU, Philippines - Government auditors have reminded the Talisay City government to exert effort in retrieving several vouchers and other documents after they found out that current and prior year's expenses were not recorded in the books of accounts.

Upon verification of the cash in bank account, state auditors noticed that several disbursements amounting to P19,203,912.45 that comprise 372 checks were remained unrecorded in the books of accounts due to the absence of disbursement vouchers and supporting documents.

Some disbursements were made even in 2005, the report read.

Auditors pointed out Section 4.6 of Presidential Decree No. 1445 that "claims against government funds shall be supported with complete documentation."

City treasurer Emma Macuto said some of the vouchers, together with the paid checks, were released by the staff of the previous administration of then mayor Socrates Fernandez to the payees concerned to acknowledge receipt of payment.

Macuto said the documents were never returned to her office after the payments were disbursed.

Furthermore, the COA found out that release of checks was not done by the city disbursing officer as the 372 checks were already negotiated with the depository bank.

"This practice resulted in the loss of the disbursement vouchers and supporting documents, which recurrence should be prevented to ensure that government funds are disbursed for valid purposes," the COA report read.

COA said the legality, validity and propriety of the disbursements of funds cannot be ascertained yet because of the non-submission of vouchers that prevented them to go a thorough review of the transactions.

Macuto promised before COA that they will go over the transactions and that some of the vouchers were already reconstructed.

Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said he intends to implement adjustments in the city's record-keeping to address the issue raised by the government auditors.  (FREEMAN)