Friday, August 24, 2007 Settle P13.2M cash advances: state auditors to Capitol
THE Cebu Provincial Government has accumulated P13.15 million in unliquidated cash advances as of December last year, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
More than 50 percent of the outstanding cash advances were granted before 2006, and some of those responsible are no longer connected with the Capitol, making the liquidation difficult, COA said.
Government auditors attributed the lapse to the failure to beat deadlines to liquidate cash advances, as well as the granting of new cash advances even if previous ones were still unreported.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has instructed the provincial administrator to send demand letters to personnel still working with the Provincial Government. She also required that a portion of their monthly salaries be deducted to settle the unliquidated cash.
A total of P3.8 million has already been settled within the first six months of 2007.
Garcia has also ordered Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla to file cases against officials who are no longer connected with the Provincial Government, so they will liquidate their cash advances.
A COA circular provides that cash advances for salaries and wages should be liquidated within five days from the 15th or from the end of the month, corresponding to a particular pay period.
Advances for petty and field operating expenses must be liquidated at the end of the year, subject to replenishment as needed.
Cash advances used for official travel must be liquidated within 60 days after the official or employee returns from abroad, or within 30 calendar days after he returns to work after a domestic trip.
The same circular also disallows additional cash advances to any official or employee unless previous cash advances have been settled.
The audit report for Capitol showed that of the accumulated cash advances, the cash disbursing officer failed to liquidate P3.2 million.
More than P195,000 went to the petty cash fund, while more than P9.6 million will have to be explained by individual officials and employees.
COA noted that the Capitol granted cash advances to 25 officials even if they have yet to settle their previous advances.
Of the 25, four officials have accumulated more than half a million each at the end of 2006. (MBG)
