COA flags Cebu town’s failure to prove P80.8-M COVID-19 relief assistance

CEBU CITY – The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered officials of Consolacion town in northern Cebu to submit proof that the beneficiaries received the COVID-19 relief assistance worth P80.8 million.

In their report, state auditors said the distribution of rice, goods, medical supplies, and other items in response to the COVID-19 pandemic from April to September 2020 could not be validated because of the absence of proof of receipt by the beneficiaries.

“(A) review of the disbursement vouchers and its supporting documents submitted disclosed that the list of recipients or beneficiaries were not among the supporting documents attached thereto,” the auditors said in their report dated May 31 but was obtained only recently by local media.

“In the absence of the list of beneficiaries, the validation on whether the relief assistance was actually distributed to the intended recipients could not be made by the audit team,” they added.

The COA also cited that several medical supplies and equipment under the Bayanihan Act were bought at a higher price and with an excess of P382,225 if compared with the price freeze rates on essential emergency medicines and devices as provided for by the Department of Health.

The Inquirer on Tuesday contacted Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado for a statement, but he did not respond to the call.

But in its response to the COA, the town stressed that it submitted revised journal entries upon receipt and distribution of the relief and essential goods, recorded as “other supplies and materials and distribution.”

The municipality also submitted the proof of receipt by the beneficiaries of the relief assistance, the Monthly Reports on Summary of Supplies and Materials issued, and Requisition and Issue Slips of these goods.

“The list of the number of recipients per barangay on their distribution for food packs was also submitted. The remaining relief and essential goods had been distributed also to the persons under monitoring,” the town said.

As to the alleged purchase of medical supplies and equipment at a higher price, Consolacion said it has submitted to COA price quotations from three suppliers indicating the brand name and specifications, showing that these purchases underwent market scanning and study.

State auditors said the documents and reports submitted by Consolacion officials were still for review.

“We recommended that the management (Consolacion town) requires the concerned offices to submit the proof of receipt by the beneficiaries of the relief assistance and set up the inventory accounts in the books for the purchase of goods and other supplies,” they said.

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