Auditors flag PIA cash advances

The Commission on Audit (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) for granting additional cash advances to its regional offices although the offices had not liquidated around P85.5 million in previous advances as of Dec. 30, 2020.

In its 2020 audit report, the COA said “no additional cash advance shall be allowed to any official or employee unless the previous cash advance given to him is first settled or a proper accounting” is made.

Despite the nonliquidation of previous advances, state auditors said more advances were approved for the maintenance and other operating expenses and personnel services of various PIA regional offices.

The report said the PIA released advances totaling P179.9 million, with Northern Mindanao getting the most with P16 million.

Issue demand letters

The COA ordered PIA to issue demand letters to all its regional offices for the liquidation of their advances, considering that the intended purpose “had already been served.”

State auditors also directed the PIA to monitor unliquidated advances to avoid long standing accounts.

In the same audit report, the COA said unutilized fund transfers, amounting to P149.2 million, from national government agencies (NGAs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) were not returned to the source agencies despite the completion of projects.

The COA also said the P149.2 million that should be returned to the source agencies does not reconcile with the balance of PIA’s trust account with the Bureau of Treasury, which amounted to only P120 million or a difference of P29 million.

State auditors told PIA to prioritize the reconciliation of dues to NGAs and GOCCs and update the balances of the trust account.

‘Stop paying’

The COA also questioned the regional head of PIA Region office in Central Visayas for claiming P60,000 transportation allowance although he had already been issued a government vehicle.

State auditors told the PIA to explain the issuance of monthly transportation allowance to the official and ordered the agency to “stop paying” transportation allowances to officials with assigned vehicles.