PCSO appeals refund of P54M bonus

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said it would appeal the decision of state auditors to disallow more than P54-million worth of bonuses the agency granted to its officers and employees in 2012 but it will comply with the “final verdict” of the Commission on Audit (COA).

The PCSO is one of 31 government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) that have been ordered by COA to refund a total of P2.313 billion in unauthorized bonuses and allowances made in 2012.

The PCSO was ordered to refund P54.829 million. The 2012 COA report on PCSO also called for the return of P27.429 million worth of weekly draw allowances (WDA) and P24.421 million worth of Cost of Living Allowances (COLA) granted to employees; and P2.533-million worth of salaries, allowances and benefits given to the PCSO board of directors.

In a phone interview, PCSO general manager Ferdinand Rojas II said the agency made a “general appeal” on the disallowances, adding that they are allowed six months to appeal the audit findings. Rojas said they were simply waiting for COA’s “final notice.”

In the meantime, the granting of the COLA will be “discontinued from 2013 onwards” in the PCSO, Rojas said.