Friday, October 10, 2008 COA asks City to ban unofficial use of cars
A STATE auditor called Cebu City Hall’s attention to the prohibition on the use of government vehicles, and reminded its officials and employees that they are not supposed to use government vehicles after office hours and on weekends.
In a letter addressed to Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña, State Auditor IV Josette Rodriguez said the City’s vehicles should be used only for official business and that a trip ticket will have to be secured for each trip.
“These motor vehicles shall be used strictly for official business, bear government plates only, and after office hours or weekends and holidays be kept in a designated garage provided by the office to avoid their unauthorized use,” she said in the letter dated Oct. 7.
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez issued a memorandum informing all City officials and employees of the Commission on Audit (COA) Administrative Order 239, which “prohibits the use of government vehicles for purposes other than officials business.”
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Rodriguez said that copies of the order were given to all government agencies to remind them of the regulations.
COA said the high price of fuel products calls on government “to exert effort to promote the judicious use of energy resources through intensified conservation effort and efficient utilization of resources.”
“There is a need to strengthen the government’s effort against the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official business in line with the government’s energy saving and anti-graft and corruption campaigns,” Acting Executive Secretary Jesus Dureza said in the order dated Sept. 15.
The order also prohibits the use of government vehicles for private social functions such as receptions, balls and trips to shopping centers, and the use of the vehicles by the spouse, children, relatives and friends of the official, even if they are in the company of the official.
While most City Hall vehicles bear red plates, Osmeña’s Nissan X-Trail has a plate marked “MAYOR” while Acting Mayor Michael Rama’s Mitsubishi Outlander is marked “VICE MAYOR.”
Earlier, Osmeña said that councilors and other city officials are allowed to use their City Hall-issued vehicles even after office hours and on weekends because they carry out executive functions.
In a phone interview yesterday, Rodriguez said they have not received any complaint of violations of the order by City Hall officials and employees.
But if other agencies receive complaints on the use of government vehicles for purposes other than official trips, they can be exempted if their explanation warrants it, she said. (LCR)
