Uniforms for barangays worth P1.3 million missing - COA

CEBU, Philippines - Over P1.3 million worth of uniforms for the South District barangays in the city are missing and are unaccounted for, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

Following the lifting of the pre-audit, COA returned the voucher for the payment of the P16.1 million worth of uniforms supposedly for distribution to the barangays, which means the city may proceed with the payment.

But before the city pursues the payment, COA managed to give initial observation that may help the city avoid questions during the post-audit.

The city government purchased the uniforms from Angel’s Sportswear. Most of the requests for uniforms for the barangays came from the City Council.

COA said some of the uniforms, procured in December 2010, have not been distributed as evidenced by the July 20, 2011 certification of Executive Assistant Annabeth Cuizon. Cuizon is the executive assistant of Councilor Margarita Osmeña.

COA said the purchased uniforms are, therefore, considered wastage and the fact that they remain undistributed “may be an indication that the need was not immediate or may not be necessary at all.”

Like in Barangay San Jose in the north district, a barangay worker disclosed that the senior citizens living there refused to accept the vests provided by the city as uniform because they have already been given two. They said a third one is useless because they only wear the vest once in a while.

COA also noted that the number of recipient barangay tanods, day care workers, barangay health workers and GAD personnel in the north district were excessive as compared to the existing records of the barangay.

Several barangay officials in the north district also confirmed to COA that they did not receive the uniforms for officials of the Parent- Teacher and Community Association, Alternative Learning System, Barangay Intelligence Network and Barangay Anti-Drug Council.

“However, attached to the voucher were acknowledgement receipts purportedly signed by these officials as end users,” COA said.

There are reportedly names of senior citizens in the north district that reportedly received uniforms based on acknowledgment receipts, however, the master list maintained by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs reportedly does not reflect the names.

COA also noted disparity in the distribution of uniforms because some barangay officials received more than one uniform, as indicated in the acknowledgement receipt.

COA found out that several uniforms in the north district procured in previous years remained undistributed and are reportedly just stored at the barangay halls.

COA also questioned why the uniforms were delivered to the office of the proponent councilor instead of placing the same under the custody of City Hall.

In a separate letter to Mayor Michael Rama, State Auditor Eva Cabrera recommended administrative sanctions against officials responsible for the lapses in the purchase of the uniforms. — (FREEMAN)