Thursday, September 13, 2007 Council asks CH to implement recommendations of auditors
AFTER learning about the P32.6 million in “wasted” Cebu City Government funds, the City Council yesterday pushed for the implementation of proper accounting and auditing of the City’s resources.
In a resolution, the council urged City Administrator Francisco Fernandez and all department heads of the executive department to coordinate with one another for the effective implementation of the Commission on Audit’s (COA) recommendations to improve its fiscal management.
The councilors also reminded all City Government employees to attend to their duties and responsibilities with caution, so that the irregularities that COA pointed out will not be repeated.
In a privilege speech during their regular session yesterday, Councilor Edgardo Labella enumerated all the City’s procedural lapses that state auditors pointed out in their accounts and operations audit from January to March 2006.
“Based on the report submitted by COA, there is a need for the City to continue clearing its fiscal records and implementing a sound financial system of proper accounting and auditing procedures based on the rules in the Local Government Code,” he said.
Labella heads the committee on laws, ordinances, public accountability and good government.
Aside from committing several procedural lapses, state auditors said the City has not properly used P32.59 million in allocations, resulting in the waste of funds.
COA 7 Cluster Director Delfin Aguilar said the City should not have granted cash advances totaling P24.463 million to contractors of various city projects.
While COA continues to look into the City’s expenses, Labella urged his colleagues in the council to continue implementing best practices that Cebu City is known for, such as its health program for children and the Barangay Justice System.
According to the COA report, the P32.6 million included the P20.175 million advanced in 2004 to W.T. Construction to build a P135-million market ramp. (LCR)
