COA questions Basilan consultants

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has called on Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar to “maximize the available regular manpower and limit the hiring of consultants to those that require expertise which could not be performed by regular employees.”

State auditors said the hiring of consultants by the provincial government in 2011 resulted in unnecessary expenditures. 

“In the post audit of the transactions of the provincial government for 2011, the hiring of consultants were not covered by a contract of consultancy was entered into by and between the consultant and the provincial governor,” a COA report released recently said.

“Our verification of their accomplishments disclosed that their work can be performed by regular employees and/or staff of the officials concerned since their work did not require any expertise,” the report said.

The COA report said there is no basis to determine the expertise of the consultants because most of them were either relatives or close associates of concerned officials. 

The COA report warned that improper charging of personnel services against maintenance and other operating expenses is equivalent to technical malversation and is punishable under the Revised Penal Code. 

“The unnecessary expenses deprived the provincial government of funds that could have been used to finance development projects,” state auditors said.