CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has cited the failure of the Talisay City accounting department and General Services Office to coordinate, maintain inventory records and individual property ledger cards, making reconciliation of balances “very difficult.”
The New Government Accounting System Section 114 requires the chief accountant and the GSO to maintain perpetual inventory records comprising of stock cards and property card for supplies, property, plant, and equipment (PPE) in their custody to account for the receipt and disposition.
GSO chief Joan Vebar conducted a physical count of the agency’s PPE during the year and was able to prepare and submit the report on physical count of PPE to the Office of the Auditor only on March 2, 2012.
Upon review and verification of the state auditors of the submitted inventory report of PPE accounts except for land, buildings and structures, it was noted that there is a difference of P123, 321,175.67 between the balance per book and those reflected in the inventory reports.
According to Vebar, she will reconcile the property records with those of the accounting office while city accountant officer Viluzminda Villarante said she will correct the PPE records to come up with reconciled balances of accounts.
But COA reminded Vebar and Villarante to closely coordinate and reconcile their records regularly as mandated under Section 114 of the New Government Accounting System manual.
“It is recommended that the Accounting and General Service Office maintain close coordination and reconcile their records regularly so that differences could be immediately corrected,” the report read. (FREEMAN)