DOLE-CAR audits unliquidated livelihood grants to associations

By Peter Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Labor and Employment regional office is conducting audit on unliquidated livelihood assistance grants the department provided to associations in the province.

Dr. Alexander Gumabol, provincial DOLE head, said two resident auditors of DOLE-Cordillera are making the rounds in municipalities where these projects are located to inspect equipment turned-over to several associations last year.

Partner barangay local government units are given 60 days to liquidate after equipment are turned-over to associations.

However, he bared that out of the 19 projects turned-over last year there are some that did not comply with the provisions of the memorandum of agreement.

“The financial assistance under DOLE’s Community Enterprise Development Project and Youth Entrepreneural Support (YES) is awarded to concerned  LGU that has jurisdiction over the association to purchase equipment and turn-over  to recipient associations,” Gumabol said adding that the same LGU has the obligation to liquidate the funds.

The audit he said  is mandatory to ensure that government funds are spent to where they are intended and that the livelihood is operating and members including the community benefit from the project.

Gumabol  reported that  DOLE-Kalinga targets to assist 36 associations this year  giving priority to  the municipalities of Pasil and  Lubuagan and Pumiyaan barangays.