Stricter rules imposed to get Capitol cash aid

CEBU, Philippines - Towns and component cities seeking financial assistance from the Cebu provincial government will now face a stricter and more tedious process after the Commission on Audit imposed additional requirements.

LGUs are required to comply with additional requirements like fund utilization report (FUR), memorandum of agreement, submission of liquidation reports not only to the Provincial Planning and Development Office but also to the Provincial Accounting Office to avail of government aid.

Based on the Internal Audit Division's list of voucher supporting documents, the obligation request, resolution from LGU, undertaking/commitment to implement project/activity, approved program of works and estimates (POWE) that has to be reviewed and signed by PPDO, and activity estimated expenses for infrastructure projects under Local Assistance Fund have to be complied with by the beneficiary.

LGUs will also have to comply with obligation request, LGU and SP resolution granting financial assistance, MOA, and approved POWE for their projects under the General Development Fund.

They are also reminded to liquidate all previous financial assistance on or before August 31 to avail of the next aid.

The audit body won't allow the release of financial assistance to the LGUs that have unliquidated projects to ensure that government funds will not be lost to corruption.

Barangay Captain Remegio Benitez of Lanipga, Carmen said he has no problem complying with the additional requirements for financial assistance. However, he said LGUs were not informed about the development.

Benitez yesterday traveled for four hours to Capitol from Lanipga to supposedly submit request for financial assistance but failed because he did not have the additional requirements.

He went home instead bringing the list of new requirements.

"Nakalitan ta sa new guidelines. Wa mi kabalo ani pero maningkamot mi ma-comply aron mahatagan mi'g financial assistance," he said.

Benitez said they will comply with the requirements but asked COA and provincial government to convene LGUs all over the province to orient and explain to them the new guidelines.

"We should be briefed accordingly before we submit the requirements to clear things out," he said.

Aside from complying with the new requirements, Benitez still have to liquidate P200 million worth of projects granted earlier. These include concreting and multi-purpose building.

He recalled that the old practice of project liquidation requires only one report submitted to the PPDO unlike now that LGUs have to submit POWE to PPDO and liquidation report to the accounting office.

For LAF (Legislative Assistance Fund), LGUs have to request it from the office of the vice governor and no longer from the Provincial Board members.

The LAF has been realigned to the Office of the Vice Governor, which will now allocate and approve all funding requests from Sangguniang Panlalawigan budget following the observation of COA on its disbursement, resulting to an "impaired public accountability" because legislators themselves decide where the funds go.

Each PB member has been allotted P3.1 million in LAF, while Vice Governor Agnes Magpale got P19 million last year. (FREEMAN)