|
Monday, July 31, 2006
Baguio council studies flowerfest audit report on Monday
THE Baguio City Council is scheduled to examine the audited Baguio Flower Festival 2006 financial report submitted by the Panagbenga Ad Hoc Management Committee (PAHMC) together with the final evaluation report on its trade fair activities during their regular session Monday.
The audited financial report was submitted last May to Mayor Braulio Yaranon through PAHMC 2006 finance committee head Victorino Agcaoili. In it, Agcaoili reported a net income of P2,097,697.38 with collectibles amounting to P535,000.
The report was audited by Federico Paragas, a certified public accountant, who formed part of the PAHMC. The audited report, in turn, was audited by State Auditor Julius Fagayan upon the request of Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez.
Rondez said although the financial record is "private in nature," she requested its further audit by Fagayan because public interest was also at stake. Rondez formed part of a counterpart City Council Ad Hoc Committee along with Councilors Elmer Datuin and Daniel Farinas.
Fagayan, in a letter regarding the financial report, commented that business was conducted in spaces along Session Road and other public places during the Panagbenga festival and as such, funds from rentals "should have accrued to the coffers of the city government and therefore should have been collected" by the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) and not by the PAHMC 2006.
Fagayan added that "the practice was, indeed, wrong and should be corrected," and informed the CTO that, "the collection of such public funds is the sole and exclusive function of the City Treasurer?s Office."
The auditor also said the trade fair activities done along public places means that taxes and licenses were collected and paid to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. "The practice encroaches on the functions of the government to assess and collect taxes and license fees," Fagayan explained.
Other technical observations regarding the report were also mentioned by Fagayan, as he hopes for corrective measures to be effected, "albeit, prospectively."
The financial report, which was earlier submitted by the PAHMC 2006 headed by businesswoman Nelia Cid and Bishop Carlito Cenzon, claimed that "no public funds were used to bankroll the 2005 and 2006 festivals," apparently as a reason to justify their collection of these funds.
The two also claimed that the report was submitted "for the public to see and scrutinize."
Funds disbursed, as stated in the submitted report, included the amount of P873,522,000 as taxes and license fees paid to the City Government, while P377,300 went to the BIR as taxes.
However, upon being furnished copies of this report earlier, many local media personalities "wondered" how amounts of P142,398.97 and P63,340 could have reportedly been spent for advertisements and media representation, respectively, and who actually received these payments. (Ernie Oolson Jr. with a report from Julie G. Fianza)
(July 31, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
