CH admin officers take charge of fast processing of claims

CEBU, Philippines - To avoid collusion, all the administrative officers of each department at the Cebu City Hall are the ones allowed to transact payment of claims from contractors.

On March 5, City Administrator, Dr. Lucelle Mercado, issued a memorandum on the processing of payments.

“Effective immediately, preparation of documents for the processing of  voucher for payment of  claims from supplier/contractors shall be handled by the Administrative Officer of the office/department requesting the procurement of goods, services or infrastructure projects,” the memorandum read.

Mercado stressed the department or office concerned is “directed to refrain from communicating with the supplier or contractor whose documents are being processed to avoid collusion.”

This would minimize the contact between the suppliers and processing office, in effect, fast tract the processing of payment, she said.

“Madali na gyod ang payment, ma lower ang price sa contractor because they don’t have to input the cost of money. Get a better price kun dali ta magbayad,” she added.

Mercado pointed out that City Hall has the biggest demand for supplies like office, infrastructure, machineries, and among others.

The administrative officer will be the one to monitor and to ensure the completeness of the pertinent documents during the processing of any payment.

Five days from receipt, Mercado said the administrative officer will act to expedite the processing of payment.

Mercado pointed out that office that will exceed from the allotted timeframe will explain in writing within 24-hours.

By expediting the payment, the contractors might offer lesser price and also “building image for City Hall”, said Mercado.

“Ma-minusan pud ang corruption kay wala naman contact and wala nay mo underground. Ang monitoring atong gyod sumadahon,” she said.  (FREEMAN)