Friday, August 22, 2008 COA: Bonus to dancers illegal
ILLEGAL bonuses to prisoners and the unregulated use of government phones were among the alleged lapses that state auditors found in the Cebu Provincial Government’s transactions last year.
The Commission on Audit (COA), in its annual report released yesterday, questioned the release of an “anniversary bonus” to inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), which amounted to more than P3 million.
Auditors also asked the Provincial Government to establish guidelines on the use of landline phones for unofficial long-distance calls.
Capitol information consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda and Capitol department heads faced reporters yesterday to answer the government auditors’ annual report.
Sepulveda said the presentation of the audit report was to show the public that the Provincial Government is transparent on its spending of public funds.
At least 1,600 inmates of the CPDRC received P1,000 each during the 438th founding anniversary of the Province last year.
Provincial Budget Officer Emmy Gingoyon clarified, however, that the inmates did not get an anniversary bonus but “an award or incentive.”
Replying to the COA report, Gingoyon pointed out that the appropriation for the inmates was classified as “donations” and not bonuses.
Citing Sections 17 and 465 of Republic Act 7160, Gingoyon said the incentives for the inmates were “valid and legal” and within the “vested powers” of Capitol officials.
In their report, however, the auditors said the “donations” granted to provincial inmates were not supported by laws, regulations or any budget circular.
When they verified, the auditors also found out that the Provincial Government incurred more than P41 million in “donations” in 2007.
These included donations “in cash or in kind” to various barangays or as part of social welfare programs.
“Only government personnel whose employment is in the nature of a regular employee shall be entitled to the said benefits,” COA said of the inmates’ incentives.
Guidelines
Since the recipients are not government employees, state auditors said, the expenditures were “illegal.”
Auditors asked Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to refrain from approving Christmas or anniversary bonuses for inmates, otherwise Capitol officials would be asked to refund the amount.
In the same audit report, government auditors also asked for guidelines for the use of the Province’s landlines for long-distance and cellular phone calls.
Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil said they came up with such guidelines. All Capitol employees, including department heads, are prohibited from using landline phones for long-distance or cellular calls “unless extremely urgent.”
The Provincial Government paid more than P1 million for call charges from landlines to cellular phones “for unknown purposes,” said the COA report.
“At present, call char-ges for using landline phones in calling cellular phones whether for personal or official purposes are paid by the Province. The continued practice had allowed all personnel to use landline phones for calling cellular phones or long-distance for personal purposes,” state auditors said.
“All calls for personal purposes should be on the account of the user to avoid unnecessary expenditures.” (GMD)
