COA: MWSS hired too many consultants

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) hired too many consultants in 2011 and 2012, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

In an audit observation memorandum (AOM) last April 5, the COA found a number of deficiencies and irregularities in the hiring of additional consultants, including violations of a moratorium on the hiring of consultancy, emergency, and job order personnel.

“The procurement of the consultancy services was done without public bidding as required under RA 9184,” said the audit findings issued by Angela Bulos and Eyren Yulde.

The findings virtually confirmed the graft charges filed by the agency’s labor union against administrator Gerardo Esquivel and the Board of Trustees last year.

Members of the MWSS Labor Association (MLA), in a criminal complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, accused them of illegally hiring and paying for the services of an excessive number of consultants.

“There are available MWSS personnel who can perform the designated duties and responsibilities of the hired consultants, negating the necessity of hiring,” the AOM addressed to Esquivel added.

The audit team noted that for 2012, MWSS hired 19 consultants in addition to nine who were hired in 2011.

“Analysis of the purposes for which these consultants were employed indicated that they exceeded the number of consultants required for some of the services,” the AOM stated.

The audit team has asked the MWSS management to comment on their observations.

They recommended adherence to the rules in the hiring of consultants and the conduct of an evaluation as to whether they are really needed despite the availability of personnel. 

The graft charge filed by the MLA in June 2012 accused the MWSS management of irregularly disbursing P14.9 million in government funds to pay for the services of the consultants and job order personnel.

The Office of the Ombudsman, after a year, issued the notice to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. asking the Office of the President to act on the complaint against Esquivel.

Assistant Ombudsman Leilanie Bernadette Cabras, in a letter dated June 18, said the anti-graft agency is giving Malacañang “an opportunity to exercise administrative disciplinary authority” on a presidential appointee.