Budget Undersecretary for Operations Mario L. Relampagos: I am the designated signatory. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Budget Secretary Florencio Abad refrained from signing outgoing documents, including special allotment release orders (Saros) and notices of cash allocation (NCAs), six months after his appointment, according to a Department of Budget and Management (DBM) memorandum obtained by the Inquirer.
The one-page order signed by Abad showed that he farmed out his signing authority to his subordinates, particularly Undersecretary for Operations Mario L. Relampagos, and it was they who signed documents authorizing fund releases from lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Fund (DAP).
Relampagos has been with the DBM since the time of President Corazon Aquino.
“In previous administrations I was only an option, if the secretary was not available, but now I am the designated signatory after the secretary has stamped his approval and explained that this designation was made only to ensure an efficient flow of documents,” Relampagos said.
The Supreme Court has ruled both the PDAF and DAP unconstitutional.
As shown by the memorandum, Abad has not signed a single Saro or NCA for the release of funds from the PDAF or the DAP since 2011.
A Saro is a DBM approval that clears the way for the issuance of the NCA, which in turn clears the release of funds from the PDAF and other programs, including the DAP.
“In the interest of the service and pursuant to the Department Order No. 2011-2 dated Jan. 19, 2011, on the assignment of DBM senior officials, Undersecretary for Operations Mario L. Relampagos shall sign for and [on] behalf of the undersigned the action or release documents that have been processed and completed by the bureaus/offices in their respective groups,” Abad’s memo said.
Others authorized, too
The memo showed that Abad also assigned other DBM officials to act as alternate signatories in the absence of Relampagos.
“Designated alternate signatories to Undersecretary Relampagos under this authority shall be covered by separate and appropriate orders,” the order said.
The directive, reissued on Aug. 18, 2011, also designated Relampagos in charge of the whole staff work flow at the budget department.
Departmental authority
Relampagos’ signing authority “includes, but is not limited to the approval of Agency Budget Matrix(ABM), Saros, NCAs and the corresponding letters/ advice to agencies, notice of organization, staffing and classification action (Nosca) and other documents related to budget execution,” the order said.
In the same memo, Abad also delegated to Relampagos the authority to act and execute the functions and obligations of the department.
“This will likewise recognize and affirm actions and/or execution of aforementioned documents under this management,” the order said.
The memo said, however, that Abad still had authority over Relampagos and could overrule his decisions.
“Nothing in this order shall be construed as a limitation on the authority/power of the undersigned to review/overrule any action taken by the official concerned,” the memo said.
In an interview with the Inquirer in January, Relampagos said all documents at the DBM went through his office as he had been designated by Abad to sign on the secretary’s behalf.
With Abad’s approval
“I signed for everything but only after it had the approval of the secretary and these documents go through other offices also,” Relampagos said.
The interview was about the alleged proliferation of fake Saros.
Relampagos explained that the DBM documents went through a budget analyst, a budget officer in charge of the project, a legal officer and technical personnel, then to the office of the secretary and then to his office.
Relampagos also said that unlike his previous bosses who authorized him to sign documents only as a last resort, Abad designated him as the signatory for all documents, including Saros and NCAs.
Graft charges
Relampagos and three of his staff members face graft charges in the Sandiganbayan over the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Their implication stems from the use of Saros and NCAs in projects proposed by bogus nongovernment organizations controlled by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam.
The funds ended up in ghost projects, allowing legislators to pocket hefty kickbacks from Napoles.
Originally posted at 1:21 pm | Thursday, July 24, 2014
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