P1.1B unliquidated cash advances in DILG still being accounted for

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said that the P1.1 billion balance of unliquidated cash advances in 2013 to its personnel are still being accounted for.

 

"We have to understand that liquidation is a process that takes time and the DILG is a big bureaucracy," Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said.

 

The DILG’s account is composed of its attached agencies’ accounts including those of the National Police Commission, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Local Government Academy and the Philippine Public Safety College.

 

The DILG said the department’s balance of P11,846,602.64 as of December 31, 2013, the updated status of cash advances shows a balance of P3,788,133.32 while P8,058,469.32 already liquidated/settled by concerned officers/employees.

 

The amount excludes the balances of DILG’s attached agencies, such as the PNP, which comprised the bulk of the entire department’s balance of unliquidated cash advances.

 

The  PNP’s total unliquidated cash advances amounting to P1.184 billion of December 31, 2013 was subsequently composed of P115.6 million for the payroll fund, and P1.069 billion for advances to officers.

 

The bulk of the P1.06 billion amounting to P865,715,420 was devoted for Intelligence Funds granted to PNP officers from 2011, 2012 and 2013, and was already liquidated, awaiting the issuance of a Credit Notice from the Commission on Audit central office.

 

“We value the people’s vigilance and COA’s faithfulness to their mandate. But the DILG has always made it a point to regularly update the public in the interest of transparency and accountability,” Roxas said.