Tupas, Mejorada shrug off latest COA report
For Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. and provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada there is nothing new in the recently issued audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA) which reportedly found some expenses incurred by the provincial government irregular, illegal and doubtful.
Both Tupas and Mejorada told the Capitol Press Corps that the COA findings were mere rehash of last year's audit report.
The governor even boasted that, so far, no provincial government transaction incurred last year has been disallowed by COA.
Tupas further claimed that he had already talked with representatives from COA regarding those issues.
However, Mejorada said the provincial government is taking steps to follow the recommendations of COA relative to provincial government transactions.
COA's Annual Audit Report signed by COA Cluster Director Delfin Aguilar, Director IV which first came out in The News Today last week questioned the validity and truthfulness of a status report submitted by the General Services Office (GSO) covering buildings owned by the Capitol valued over P248 million.
The Commission on Audit (COA) as per validation and verification stated that said amount and report was found to be "doubtful in existence" and a "misstatement." Such, after the Commission discovered that no adequate records accompanied the GSO report with only P34 million worth accounted for.
COA also questioned the unauthorized release of over P3.2 million honorarium to members of the Technical Management and Games Administration Committee in last years's Palarong Pambansa hosted by Iloilo province.
COA also discovered that over P21 million infrastructure projects implemented by the Capitol last year were without contract agreements. It said the Iloilo Provincial Government merely issued "Purchase Orders" which COA noted had terms and conditions that limited the responsibilities and accountabilities of the contractors in case of project failure or ineffectiveness.
COA pointed out that the provincial government should abide with the requirements provided in RA 9184.
Also highlighted in the COA report was the P13 million Capitol Power Substation. Not only is this project not operational, COA pointed out, but the disbursement vouchers for the payment of equipment were not supported with complete documentation.
"The equipment was delivered two years ago and the sub-station was already completed but the project was still inoperative. The failure of the province to facilitate the approval of the ERC caused the delay in the operation of the substation. Extended delay would expose the equipment and station to deterioration and would entail additional expenses for its repair. Likewise the provincial government is deprived of the savings on electric power the project could generate," COA stated.
COA also noted that despite last year's warning on food expense the provincial government still incurred over P3.2 million for food catering that covered six to twelve courses.
"It appeared therefore that the Province of Iloilo had not minimized the expenses for food and catering services as recommended in last year's audit report," COA stated.