DAR asked to collect unpaid loans

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to cause the collection of some P40.5 million in outstanding loans from its regional offices in Regions 3 and 10.

In its 2010 report, COA said it found various dormant receivable accounts in DAR-Regional Offices amounting to P1.6 million in DAR-Bulacan; DAR-Bataan, P1.9 million; DAR-South Nueva Ecija, P12.3 million; DAR-North Nueva Ecija, P4.8 million; DAR-Pampanga, P8.3 million; DAR-Tarlac, P8.4 million and P294,754.00; and DAR-Zambales, P347,803.50.

State auditors noted that under the Government Auditing and Accounting Manual (GAAM), the accounting units of all government agencies should prepare a statement showing overdue accounts.

COA said DAR should closely monitor the collection of loans receivables and ensure that prescribed controls over loan collections are observed.

DAR should likewise institute necessary measures against the defaulting debtor and or apply other legal modes of collection and request authority from COA for the write-off of the dormant loans receivables in compliance with the rules, COA said.