Council to Treasurer: "Explain disallowances"

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Cebu City Council want explanation from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) on the disallowances from the Commission on Audit (COA) of the CTO’s “unreasonable expenses.”

Also, City Councilors Edgardo Labella, Alvin Dizon and Augustus “Jun” Pe yesterday reminded the City Treasurer’s Office of Section 4 of Republic Act 6713 on the norms of conduct of public officials and employees.

“They should be more prudent in using public funds,” Labella said, adding that officials and workers in government should perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism and skill.

Labella will ask for an explanation why the CTO spent almost P400,000 for a trip to Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin Island.

COA has issued three notices of disallowances to the city treasurer’s department. Auditors earlier questioned the procurement of food for teachers and support staff who served in the last elections. The state auditors even suspended the payment of Red Carpet services amounting to P4 million.

The second disallowance was the release of P5.101 million cash advance for the Christmas streetlights last December, which did not go through public bidding as mandated in the Philippine Government Procurement Law.

Early this month, COA found unnecessary expenses and waste of funds for their trip in Cagayan and Camiguin.

In a separate interview, Pe said he will ask his colleagues to slash down the operational expenses in the next budget of CTO if proven that the department has been wasting government funds.

“Let them explain. Atong sutaon kung gi-unsa nila paggamit ang ilang budget,” Per said.

Dizon said the CTO should also set their priorities.

At least 32 personnel from the CTO conducted a “teambuilding and summer getaway activity” after the May 10, 2010 national and local elections. City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said the activity was part of the accomplishments of their department.

The travel cost P326,274.74.

But COA said the activity was considered pleasure and personal in nature.

Emma Villarete, assistant city treasurer for administration, said they conducted a teambuilding activity and even went to Cagayan de Oro City to observe how their city’s treasury department operates.

“As far as I am concerned, it was not for pleasure,” Villarete said, adding that she respects the observation of the COA and that they will submit their justification to the agency concerned. — (FREEMAN)