Government vehicles for personal use?

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is calling on the heads of departments, bureaus, offices, government agencies and state universities and colleges that are collecting Representation and Transportation Allowances (Rata) to strictly follow the national compensation circular.

The DBM found out that there are heads and officers-in-charge (OICs) of regional offices and agencies who, without any apprehension, dared to utilize government vehicles for their personal use even though they are receiving their Rata.

A DBM official, who requested not to be named, said this should not be the case.

"They should not use the government vehicle to transport them to and from their house and office if they are collecting transportation allowance," the DBM official said.

She said there are government officials and regional directors who waived their transportation allowance for the issuance of government vehicle and are only receiving representation allowance (RA).

She said national compensation circular 67 is being issued to ensure uniformity and consistency of actions on claims for Rata, which is primarily granted by law to National Government officials and employees to cover expenses incurred in the discharge of performance of their duties and responsibilities.

Government officials and employees covered by this circular include those who are duly designated by competent authority to perform the full-time duties and responsibilities, whether or not in concurrent capacity, as officer-in-charge (OIC).

"Even if their designation is OIC for the position of regional director, they are entitled for RATA," the DBM official added.

Based on the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Ratas for department secretaries is P22,000,00; department undersecretaries, P17,400; department assistant secretaries, P15,600; bureau directors and department regional directors, P14,000; assistant bureau directors, department assistant regional directors, bureau regional directors and department service chiefs, P13,000; assistant bureau regional directors P11,000, and P8,000 for chief of divisions, identified as such in the personal service itemization and plantilla of personnel.

But for each type of allowance is subject to change in accordance with the rates in the annual GAA.

The DBM official said the function of DBM is to set only the Rata guidelines for government agency, and it is the Commission on Audit that would determine whether the guidelines are followed in accordance with the law.

With this, the DBM official emphasized that the auditors assigned in various government offices should be vigilant to evaluate the value of expenses of these officials.

"Their duty is more on post-audit of disbursement of offices to determine whether the use of the Rata is lawful or not," the DBM official said.