Palace news bureau scored for cash advances

The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the News and Information Bureau (NIB) of the Presidential Communications Operations Office for failing to liquidate cash advances totaling P692,788.99.

In its 2020 audit report, COA also found out that a total of P137,092.89 cash advances for travels remained unliquidated for over eight months to seven years.

Under COA rules, cash advances for travel expenses must be liquidated within 30 days after the return of the official or employee concerned for local travel and within 60 days after the return of the official in the case of foreign travels.

State auditors, however, noted that a liquidation report totaling P173,324.94 had already been submitted in October and December last year.

—NESTOR CORRALES