COA report: Town failed to collect P.3M for NGOs, Pos

The Accounting and Treasurer’s Office of Santander town failed to collect P342,432 in receivables from different non-government organizations and people’s organizations for more than seven years.

The Commission on Audit’s 2007 annual report disclosed that P100,000 was released for NGA Group of 25 livelihood projects, P100,000 for the Plameña Banahaw Multi-Purpose Cooperative, P80,000 for the Gabriel Buscato Livelihood Project, and P62,432 for various KKK respondents.

State auditors stated that the present accounting personnel explained that the detailed list of the NGA Group and KKK respondents as well as related documents to support the receivables cannot be presented as they still have to look for these in their records.

It was found out that these accounts have been standing for many years without any movements.

“Efforts to validate the livelihood projects or collect these receivables, even from the two names recipients, were not made by the management,” the COA report said.

COA asked the two municipal offices, in coordination with the agriculture’s office, to exert more effort to locate the necessary documents to support the receivables, send collection letters and validate the existence of livelihood projects by the NGOs and POs.

The COA also asked the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator to prioritize development projects. This after the development fund was not used for the benefit of the municipal constituents.

The reports revealed that upon review of the municipality’s transactions, part of the 20 percent development fund was utilized as financial assistance to the elderly and individuals like burial and medicine assistance worth P554,955.41.

A total of P465,917.79 was spent for expenses for tourism-related activities like the Tostado Festival, Suroy-Suroy Sugbo and exhibits.

Another P63,260 was spent for sports activities.

These disbursements totaling to P1,084.133.20, although approved in the 2007 Annual Investment Plan, do not fall under the category of development projects as embodied in the duly approved joint memorandum circular of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management dated September 20, 2005.—Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP