MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) reported that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) had spent more than P4.8 million for mailing services in 2009 despite the agency’s franking privilege to avail of free mail service.
Some P3.4 million of the amount was used to buy stamps while the remaining amount covered meter machine loading and deliveries made through LBC.
“The OSG could have saved the total amount of P4,805,025.50 in 2009 if the agency had taken advantage of its franking privilege in the delivery of mail matters as provided for under Section 9 of RA 9417,” the COA report said.
COA auditors explained that the law provides that “all official matters and telegrams of the Office of the Solicitor General addressed for delivery within the Philippines shall be received, transmitted and delivered free of charge, provided, that such mail matters when addressed to private persons or non-government offices shall not exceed 120 grams.”
“We recommended that management make use of its franking privilege particularly for mail weighing 120 grams or less, to reduce postage consumption thus generating savings for the office,” the report read.
COA said that upon the request of the OSG, the Philippine Postal Corp. on March 23, 2010 granted the franking privilege on all official mail matters and telegrams addressed for delivery within the Philippines.
The OSG is considered as the law office of the Republic of the Philippines as it represents the government, including its departments, agencies and instrumentalities, and its officials and agents, who are suing or are being sued in their official capacities.
COA said the agency, currently headed by former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Jose Anselmo Cadiz, is also the counsel of the People of the Philippines in cases filed at the Court of Appeals.