COA: Barili committed lapses

STATE auditors found several violations in the way the Municipal Government of Barili handled public funds and properties worth millions of pesos.

In its 2011 audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) noted that Barili failed to give barangays about P1.25 million in real property tax shares and P294,000 in mandatory financial aid.

COA’s Lydia Clapano also found that Barili continued to grant cash advances to personnel with unliquidated funds, resulting in unaccounted-for cash of about P4.1 million.

On the other hand, Barili failed to record real property tax receivables and special education tax revenues, resulting in a shortfall of P2.055 million.

Due to the local government’s failure to conduct a complete inventory of its properties and equipment, COA said, about P41.8 million in the town’s property, plant and equipment account is lost.

Sun.Star Cebu tried but failed to get Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas to comment on COA’s findings.

COA said local government units are required in Section 271 of the Local Government Code to release the real property tax shares of their barangays every quarter.

“The municipal government should release the funds due to the different barangays so these can be utilized (for) much-needed projects,” Clapano said in the audit report.

Cash advances

She said Barili has violated COA rules on the release and liquidation of cash advances.

Local government officials and personnel are required to liquidate all cash advances.

Those who get cash advances for official trips are supposed to refund the funds when the travel did not push through.

Those with unliquidated cash advances and those who have yet to return unused public funds are not allowed to receive fresh cash advances.

The COA report also said that the Barili municipal treasurer failed to furnish the municipal accountant a certified list of taxpayers and tax collectibles, resulting in a collection shortage.

“We recommend that the treasury department come up with the certified list of taxpayers and amount of taxes due at the soonest time possible so that accounting can book the (real property and special education tax) receivables,” said Clapano.