Mayor told: Run after CH staffers with unliquidated cash advances

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama should initiate the filing of malversation charges against City Hall personnel who have yet to liquidate cash advances worth P101 million from last year and previous years.

City Auditor Delia Monte de Ramos made the recommendation, saying their failure to liquidate cash advances is a ground for criminal prosecution under the Revised Penal Code and COA Circular No. 2012-004.

“Management has not replied to the request of the COA Regional Director, Regional Office No. VII on the action taken on the 39 recommendations contained in the Annual Audit Report (AAR) for 2012,” Monte de Ramos said.

The Cebu City Council secretariat was also given a copy of the report. A follow up letter was sent to Rama’s office on August 20 but “there has been no reply to the letters as of Sept. 6, 2013.”

Observations mentioned in the 2012 AAR include a potential overdraft of P1 billion, the non-implementation of infrastructure projects worth P468.4 million and excess in the city’s personal services appropriation by P62 million.

Also included were the “irregular” use of P56.3 million from the Special Education Funds (SEF) for teachers’ incentives and the use of P17 million on extravagant trainings and seminars.

Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said her office already sent their reply to the 2012 AAR but could not remember the exact date of the transmission.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete whom Mayor Rama earlier tasked to oversee the city’s submission of replies to COA was on leave yesterday.

The failure of the city engineering office to furnish COA with a listing of completed and on-going projects.

The City Engineering Department was also directed to install signboards to identify city government funded projects.

Monte de Ramos’ report also mentioned the city’s failure to furnish her office with a monthly collection, check issuances and disbursement reports “which cast doubt on the reliability of the affected account balances.”

The city government likewise failed to properly record three completed projects worth P3.58 million.

Renovation costs of City Hall’s legislative building were reportedly erroneous which resulted in a P1.8 million balance. /Chief of Reporters Doris Bongcac