Council told: Disbursement of funds must have COA’s nod

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City’s Office of the City Accountant has reminded the City Council that disbursement of government funds regardless of their sources shall be subject to the requirements, procedures and approval of the Commission on Audit.

This came after the office received the approved resolution of the council charging P2 million against the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) funds for the cash incentives and plaques of recognition to 183 city scholars who graduated with honors last March 2015.

“This office observes that the above program does not fall within any items of the existing guidelines set by the PAGCOR Board on the utilization of the funds,” City Accountant Mark Salomon said in his August 26 letter to the council.

Salomon attached the October 2, 2002 letter of then Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Efraim Genuino to then mayor Tomas Osmeña regarding the guidelines on the utilization of the funds.

According to the letter, projects that may be supported with PAGCOR funds are only those “self-sustainable economic livelihood projects preferable on the grassroots level which provide employment to and generate income for the less fortunate segments of the community, including the physically disabled, the elderly citizens, orphaned, and abandoned youth.”

Other projects include infrastructure that are essential to the community; projects connected with delivery of basic health services, peace and order in the locality; emergency assistance to victims of natural disasters and calamities; and such other projects that will help achieve social amelioration among the less-privileged.

Councilors Alvin Dizon and Lea Japson authored the resolution granting the cash incentives to the scholars, as provided in the City Ordinance 2424.

Under the ordinance, a city scholar who will graduate as Summa Cum Laude will receive P20,000; P15,000 for Magna Cum Laude; and P10,000 for Cum Laude.

Last March, at least 13 scholars graduated Magna Cum Laude and 170 graduated Cum Laude.

Sought for comment, Dizon said he and Japsonhave already talked with Salomon on the matter.

“We, the authors of the resolution, will ask for a recommendation from the PAGCOR Board to consider this kay important pod ni nga masuportaan g’yud. Besides, this charging is only for this year. The succeeding years kay ato naman i-apil sa annual budget,” he said.

Dizon, the chairperson of the council’s committee on education, said he believes that PAGCOR guidelines include the provision to uplift the youth.

Also, he said Mayor Michael Rama has already approved the request to charge the amount against PAGCOR funds.  – /NSA (FREEMAN)