4 Sta. Fe officials linked to road project found with inconsistencies

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has held accountable four officials of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island, Cebu and payees who failed to submit pertinent documents in implementing a road maintenance project worth over half a million pesos in 2013 to 2014.

 They are Vice Mayor Paolo Esgana, former chairman on the committee on appropriations from 2010 to 2013, Talisay Barangay Captain Adoracion Cabrera, Gerardo Cabrera Sr, current chair on committee on appropriations from 2013 to present, Barangay Treasurer Regalado Landao, and all the payees indicated in the payroll.

 COA, in its 2015 annual audit, found out that officials have authorized the disbursement of over half a million for the road maintenance project in Barangay Talisay in the said town without proper documentation.

 COA said Barangay Talisay failed to submit authorization letters and certified photocopy of valid identification cards with signature of those job order personnel listed in the payroll to "validate the inconsistencies of the signatures of the claimants."

 This prompted COA to disallow the project worth P545,000.

 COA said Cabrera was responsible in certifying the validity, propriety and legality of the transaction and approved the payment, Landao for disbursing without complete documents, and Esgana and Cabrera Sr. for certifying the existence of available appropriation.

 All the 152 workers hired by the local government unit for the road project have been held liable for receiving the payment. Their salaries reportedly range from P1,000 to P19, 500.

 The Freeman tried to call Cabrera to get his side on the accusation hurled against him but he could not be reached as of press time.

 Esgana, for his part, said he will write to COA to explain his side. He confirmed though that the fund for the project was available when he issued a certification of availability of funds. (FREEMAN)