COA: OMB bought ‘big bike,’ disc shredders

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) accused the Optical Medical Board (OMB) of wasting over P3.1 million in public funds when it purchased a “big bike” and disc shredders that were seldom or never used.

In a 2013 report released yesterday, state auditors said the agency tasked by law to fight film piracy bought four shredders worth P3 million in 2006 yet ended up rarely using the machines.

The following year, the OMB also purchased a motorcycle described as a big type Honda 2007 model costing P109,900, which was never used since its acquisition and left idle in the parking lot, exposed to the elements.

The OMB stopped using the shredders after the machines were found to produce chemical-laced dust that was deemed a health hazard, the COA said. 

Due to such health and environmental concerns, state auditors said the OMB decided to explore an alternative whereby the confiscated optical discs could generate income for the government by selling them “as is, where is” to interested parties, state auditors said.

The COA report said the motorcycle was bought specifically for the official use of the then board secretary, who was purportedly a large person. However, the official resigned from the agency before the unit could be registered. Since then, no employee had been assigned to officially use the motorcycle.

The COA recommended that the OMB sell the shredders and the motorcycle through public bidding and remit the proceeds to the National Treasury.