DOT execs, workers told to return bonuses

The Commission on Audit. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—State auditors have asked officials and employees of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to return P162.4 million in bonuses and allowances they received in 2011 and 2012.

Although the DOT officials maintained that the bonuses and allowances were part of their collective negotiations agreement (CNA) with the DOT Employees Association, the Commission on Audit (COA) said that such negotiated bonuses were “contrary to prevailing rules and regulations.”

The COA, in its annual audit report released on Jan. 24, told the DOT officials and employees to return the money to the government.

These bonuses are not allowed under the 2002 Public Sector Labor Management Committee Resolution No. 4, which declared that all “allowances not provided for by law are not negotiable,” government auditors said.

“The payment of allowances and other forms of compensation without proper authority is deemed an irregular expenditure, hence, (the) Notice of Disallowance dated Nov. 5, 2013, was issued,” the COA said in its report submitted to Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., who was appointed in September 2011.

The financial perks vetoed by the COA were the P10.99-million excess CNA incentives for 2011; P40.84-million economic assistance (P26.89 million in 2011 and P13.95 million in 2012); P53.33 million in economic relief allowances (P23.26 million in 2011 and P19.49 million in 2012); P5.82 million in calamity assistance for 2012; P5.96-million birthday bonuses (P2.45 million in 2011 and P3.51 million in 2012); P29.27 million in educational assistance (P12.96 million in 2011 and P16.31 million in 2012); and P16.22 million in professional and personal enhancement incentives in 2012.

The COA said that at least P151.447 million in perks given by the DOT leadership from 2011 to 2012 did not have  prior permission from the President.

The COA also noted that in the DOT’s 2011 CNA, only P25,000 in incentives were approved for employees across the board. But the DOT paid out P48,000 per employee, which led to an excess payment of close to P11 million.

In December, the COA released its 2012 Annual Financial Report for Government Owned and/or Controlled Corporations, which ordered 31 state-run firms to refund P2.313 billion in illegal bonuses and allowances.

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