Capitol to pay only P88M in obligations

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Provincial Accountant can only pay P88 million out of  the P607 million obligations for projects completed in the previous administration.

Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil had checked the contractor's summary balance submitted by Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora amounting to P607 million against the submitted billing of the contractors as booked up under the account payables as of Nov. 30, 2013 in the amount.

 In his letter dated Dec. 27, 2013 to Governor Hilario Davide III, Ypil said that out of the total per statement, only P79 million have been submitted to the office booking under the General Fund while P9.4 million was booked up under the Special Education Fund, thus, leaving a balance of P518.7 million.

 The P88.4 million is part of the P250 million due and demandable but the documents have yet to reach the accounting office for booking.

 Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, chairwoman of the PB committee on budget and appropriation, called for a meeting yesterday to discuss the long overdue claims of the contractors and the resolution of the Provincial Development Council Executive Committee realigning the P316.5 million from the unexpended 2013 Development Fund.

 During the meeting, Ypil reported that there is fund which can be used for payment to the contractors.

 But PB Member Peter John Calderon has advised to just wait for the direction of the governor whether to pay or not.

 "At least kami naghimo mi'g among kaugalingong options ba for us to make suggestion to the governor ug unsay pending nga payables," Sanchez told reporters.

 Sanchez said they are going to review one-by-one each of the contracts then they will make a collective suggestion to be presented to the governor.

 She said that should they find that some contracts are already expired or have yet started, they could scrap those from the total balance of P518.7 million contract cost.

"We will make separate policy on how to review the contracts then we submit it to the governor og unsa gyud iyahang plano but then it's really all up to the discretion of the governor," Sanchez said.

Sanchez admitted that it's a tedious work but they must do something to move on.

"We just have to address the issue, correct if it needs correction and then move forward," she added. (FREEMAN)