COA tells CH: Assign office to monitor NGOs/POs cash aids

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has recommended to the Cebu City government to assign a specific office to monitor and ensure proper liquidation of funds granted to various non-government and people’s organizations.

COA-7 regional director Delfin Aguilar made the recommendation following the recent audit report wherein state auditors found a total of P20,987,443 unliquidated cash advances granted to NGOs and Pos.

Aguilar said Mayor Michael Rama should assign a specific office to monitor the cash advances granted to non government organizations to see to it that the funds granted to them are not wasted. This will also ensure that those NGOs and POs which have not liquidated the previous grants should not be granted additional amount.

The city claimed that the amount of cash assistance granted by them to various NGO’s and PO’s have decreased so much because they have already complied with the provisions of COA Circular 2007-001.

Such COA circular prohibits the granting of cash assistance to any non-government organizations or people’s organization whose officials are relatives of the officials of the local government units donating the funds.

The state auditors learned that as of March 31, 2007, a total of P20,987,443 cash grants to various NGO/PO’s remained unliquidated. But, despite of it the city government reportedly continues to grant financial aids.

COA already called the city officials’ attention about it and told to refrain from granting additional cash aids to those NGO/PO’s that have failed to liquidate their grants in previous years.

The FREEMAN learned that there are 38 NGO/PO’s accredited by the Cebu City government through the City Council which are qualified to receive financial grants from the city. (FREEMAN)