P211.8M in government assets missing?

CEBU, Philippines - Over P200 million of government properties are unaccounted from three municipalities in Cebu because of the local government units’ failure to conduct the required physical inventory.

The Commission on Audit found out that there are a total of P211.8 million worth of properties from Pinamungajan, Barili and Dumanjug that could not be accounted.

In its audit report covering the year 2009 for the three municipalities, state auditors said that the existence of the more than half of the total assets of these towns could not be ascertained because of their failure to conduct physical count.

COA estimated the unaccounted property of Barili to be at P55.5 million. In Dumanjug, P68.3 million while P88 million in Pinamungajan. The state auditors however did not enumerate the unaccounted assets in their report.

They only stated in general terms under the item, Properties, Plants and Equipment.

State auditors said they have ordered the mayors to submit a report to COA but until now the local chief executives failed to comply.

Inventory reports should be submitted to state auditor not later than January 31 of each year. There was also no mention in the report of the violations committed by the chief executives for failure to submit the inventory report.

Meanwhile, COA has asked Dumanjug officials and employees to liquidate the P1.9 cash advances that remained unliquidated as of December 31, 2009.

Numerous cash advances granted to the municipal mayor for his intelligence fund in the total amount of P1.6 million.

Some employees were also granted cash advances more than what were actually needed.

Most cash advances were not liquidated in full upon completion of the purpose but were refunded on staggered basis through salary deductions.

The municipal accountant said that liquidation papers of said cash advances were already sent to COA central office in Manila.

However, state auditor said it did not indicate the breakdown of the cash advances being liquidated and no copy of the liquidation report was furnished to them, hence, the exact amount could not be determined. (FREEMAN)