Audit reveals multi-million unacted findings, unsettled cash advances, undeposited cash collections
TUPAS
Government auditors made a repeat of previous year's findings on the financial and over-all operation of the Municipality of Barotac Viejo.
With some P60 million in total amount set to be either deposited, accounted and validated, the Commission on Audit (COA) concluded its check on said town as it reiterated three findings telling Barotac Viejo executives, "this is prior year's finding... this is a reiteration of prior year's finding."
For instance, COA notes over P24.7 million in Property, Plant and Equipment that failed to be physically inventoried contrary to law. As such, the Commission maintained, the town's validity, existence and correctness of the PPE account is "doubtful."
A repeat as well on the findings of unliquidated cash advances amounting to P3,799,302.98 "thus resulting in wastage, misuse and abuse of government funds." Added to it are more violations where more cash advances were granted to same officials with unsettled accounts.
COA's message to Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul Tupas?, "call the attention of the concerned municipal officials and employees to settle their outstanding cash advances, otherwise require the withholding of the salaries of those who fail to settle despite many demands. Efforts should be exerted to locate those who are no longer connected with the municipal government to settle their cash advances."
The News Today (TNT) gathered that accountable officers on record were Ramon V. Lopez with about P192,000 in unsettled cash advances, Mario Torralba with over P2.5 million, Elsa Bilbao with over P1.2 million and Tina Tupas with P49,800.
And yet another repeat in the audit made of the town's cash collections where latest check got government auditors to confirm over P21 million not deposited intact "thus resulting in undue accumulation of cash at risk of improper use or possible loss."
"The practice of retaining part of the collections as a cash reserve should be discontinued," COA wrote.
Three other new findings completed this year's audit where P120,000 in consultancy services fee was questioned.
"A contract of consultancy services was entered into by and between the Municipality of Barotac Viejo and a certain Isidro A. Engada on July 20, 2005," excerpts of the report went. "The only basis for payment is the approved Contract of Consultancy Services. No monthly accomplishment reports are attached to the Disbursement Vouchers to establish the validity and legality of the claims."
There was also the discovery of P74,903.50 in long distance calls in six months alone covering January to July of 2005 "resulting to wastage, misuse and abuse of government funds."
And finally, undue use of the town's 20% development fund where COA noted too many searches and contests that used up over P59,000 from said allocation "thus depleting the funds intended for legitimate development projects/activities and depriving the constituents of value-added benefits."
"The activities undertaken by the municipality do not fall in any part of the above-mentioned criteria," COA reported.