Friday, August 03, 2007 Jonas puts lid on cash advances
AN AUDIT report on violations of rules on cash advances, among others, confirms to Mandauehanons the extent of the City’s fiscal problems and the issues he raised during the campaign, Mayor Jonas Cortes said yesterday.
The mayor also said his administration will comply with all recommendations raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its report, released just five weeks since Cortes assumed office.
He immediately ordered City Hall’s finance officers to be careful in granting cash advances, especially to those with previous unliquidated advances.
“No additional cash advance shall be allowed to any official or employee unless the previous cash advance given to him is first settled or proper accounting thereof is made,” states Section 89 of Presidential Decree 1445.
COA auditors have called the Mandaue City Government’s attention to cash advances granted to officials who have yet to account for previously released amounts.
Some of these officials were identified as former sports commissioner Cheryl Ouano, former mayor Thadeo Ouano’s daughter-in-law; former city administrator Serafin Blanco; former liaison officer Nerito Martinez; and budget officer Lamberto Marababol.
Some of the cash advances dated back to 2001, COA said.
COA also observed that some of the cash advance grantees were not duly designated as special disbursing officers by the agency head, in violation of COA Circular 97-002.
The city accountant, however, informed COA that some already liquidated their cash advances as of March 2006.
The COA 2006 report showed that Cheryl Ouano received three cash advances in 2002; five cash advances in 2003; two cash advances in 2004; and 16 cash advances in 2005. Her cash advances from 2002 to 2005 amounted to some P4.5 million.
As of March 2007, about P450,000 granted during the Asean summit remained unliquidated, City Hall records showed. Cheryl Ouano, however, said she will submit the required certification next week.
From 2001 to 2005, Blanco received a total of P685,320 in cash advances.
Martinez advanced P132,226 between 2000 and 2005. Marababol’s cash advances date back to 1996 and, as of 2005, had reached P108,820. (OCP)
