COA thumbs down P1.1M in Capitol travel expenses

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has sent various notices to the Provincial Capitol on the suspension and disallowances related to the release of funding for travel expenses of former Capitol employees and officials, including former governor and incumbent 3rd district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, in the amount of P1,136,159.

In a COA letter addressed to Governor Hilario Davide III and coursed through Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil last Aug. 30, 2013, the COA noted that they have audited the disbursement of "travelling expenses-foreign" for Nov. 16, 2007 which recorded P298,490 under Garcia's name.

COA stated that the release of the amount was disallowed although the DILG secretary, in a letter dated Oct. 31, 2007, approved the authority to travel abroad of the governor Garcia, because it was with the condition that "no expenses shall be borne by the Provincial Government in connection with the travel herein authorized."

Notice of disallowances, if not recanted by COA, would mean that the named payee would need to reimburse the mentioned amount.

A notice of suspension was also sent by COA, noting an amount of P106,521 released for Oct. 10, 2008 as a travel expense under Garcia's name.

"The amount of P106,521.08 was suspended in audit due to non-compliance of DILG memorandum circular nos. 2001-52 dated May 8, 2001-2006-22 dated March 6, 2006 and 2006-163 dated November 30,2006 which requires DILG approval of request for authority to travel abroad by the local government officials and employees," stated in the COA report. 

Another notice of suspension noted the P110,347 disbursement as travelling expense of former Provincial Board member Victor Maambong last July 17, 2008 and the disbursement of P70,081 last February 15, 2008 and P120,913 last Oct. 17, 2008 for Elizabeth Francia, Garcia's former chief of staff.

The COA also stated travel expense disbursements under the name of Ronald Conopio, another former staff of Garcia, amounting to P46,007 last June 5, 2009, as well as a notice of disallowance for disbursements for Conopio's travel expenses last  June 7, 2007 with an amount of P92,728, another P88,885 for August 17 of the same year and P202,187 last January 22, 2008.

Under the notice of suspension, COA also named responsible officials for the supposed compliance of the required DILG approval. It stated the provincial accountant and the assistant provincial treasurer are responsible in certifying that the allotment obligated for the purpose of the disbursement and supporting documents needed are complete.

The provincial treasurer also has the authority to certify that funds are available while the provincial administrator is the one who approved the voucher.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said they are still working on their reply to COA on an audit report the commission sent the provincial government regarding the disallowance of the distribution of Christmas honorariums to barangay workers.

In its report, COA recommended that all barangay workers who received cash gifts from the provincial government last January 2012 have to refund the amount they got which totals to almost P47 million.

Magpale, however, earlier said that they will explain to the COA that the amount given to barangay workers were cash rewards, as practiced by Garcia in the past years, and not a monthly salary or honorarium, which the COA stated as a prohibition.

The COA attached a local budget circular dated October 1996, particularly citing Section 4.2, which states that "the province and city or municipality where the barangay belongs cannot grant compensation to the barangay officials and employees in the form of honorarium or salary increase chargeable against either provincial, city, municipal or barangay funds." /BRP (FREEMAN)