COA hits Ifugao for cash shortage, disbursements from disaster funds

By Ben R. Rosario

The Commission on Audit has sought the filing of legal cases against officials and employees of the Ifugao provincial government for failing to settle P372,000 in cash shortage and unliquidated cash advances.

COA revealed Thursday that it also asked the provincial government to act on the “inelligible expenditures” of the province of over P1 million that was deducted from the province’s disaster fund.

In its 2016 Annual Audit Report for Ifugao, COA noted provincial officials disbursed P1,045,239 from its disaster fund to pay for the salaries of road maintenance workers.

Another P110,053 was utilized to disburse expenses for office and IT supplies, travel, repairs and installation of anti-virus software and other unauthorized expenditures.

“The COA Order of Execution for the collection of P211,864.14 in cash shortage had not been enforced and a total of P161,036.00 in receivables from officials had not been settled contrary to Section 89 of PD No. 1445 and COA Circular No. 97-002, exposing government funds to misuse or misappropriation and may lead to possible filing of cases against delinquent personnel,” the COA report stated.

 The cash shortage was held against administrative assistant Rita D. Buhong who was unable to settle the P211,864.14 in missing funds despite the issuance of the COE in early 2016.

 The other receivables comprised the cash advances of accountable officers who failed to liquidate the amount entrusted them.