Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sugat ’07 expenses questioned
STATE auditors are calling the attention of Minglanilla officials over what they consider “excessive and unnecessary” spending for the town’s fiesta last year.
The Commission on Audit (COA), in its annual report, ruled that spending P2 million for the annual Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival was lavish and violated a budget memorandum circular.
In the same report, auditors also raised concern over the possible misuse of public funds following the failure of the Municipality to conduct an inventory on the procurement of medicines worth P6.6 million.
Reply
In their reply to the audit report, Minglanilla officials said the festival is necessary “to promote tourism and to attract investors.”
“People from other parts of the province, including those from other provinces and tourists abroad, came and joined the commemoration of Jesus’ resurrection and witnessed the festival, just to mention a few of the achievements,” they said.
They also denied that the Municipal Government “excessively” spent for the festival, saying the allocation was sourced from the municipality’s savings.
Expenses for the festival included payment for a local band (P48,000), prizes (P76,000), rentals for lights and sound system (P451,605), meals and snacks during meetings (P242,500), radio and TV promotions (P149,999), donations to various schools (P330,000), shirts (P80,000), cell phone cards (P15,000), and a fireworks display (P94,999).
“The Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival was generally a religious activity, funding source for which was from the local government unit’s savings, hence, taxpayers’ money,” auditors said.
Such an expense violated the prohibition on using government funds for religious or private purposes, they added.
In the same report, auditors also said the Municipal Government failed to conduct an inventory on the procurement of various medicines last year worth P6.6 million.
The above amount came from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district).
No record
The town accountant admitted that the nurses assigned in health centers who received the medicines failed to record supplies delivered to them and instead, directly delivered these to various barangays.
However, the nurse in-charge denied receiving and distributing the medicines to recipients although their signatures were shown on receipts.
Verification made by auditors revealed that the disbursement vouchers were not taken up as inventory by the municipal accountant and instead labeled as financial assistance.
Auditors also asked the municipal accountant and treasurer to follow the prescribed laws in the recording of procured items using public funds to ensure that government assets are protected. (GMD)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 28, 2008 issue)
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