Former town councilor urges DSWD-8: Reveal LGUs’ unliquidated advances

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Former Tabontabon (Leyte) town councilor Nestor Abrematea the other day dared the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 8 to make public the local government units that have millions of unliquidated advances with the department.

Abrematea met with and asked DSWD-8 acting Director Restituto Macuto to reveal to the media the various LGUs in Leyte and Samar with still outstanding advances for the public to know and let the responsible officials be held accountable.

These unliquidated cash advances have caused the non-release of pensions of senior citizens, particularly in his town, said Abrematea.

“It is an injustice for the social pensioners and disabled persons if they are not being given their due pension and benefits on time. These people badly need the money for their needs,” Abrematea told Macuto.

Abrematea, also Visayas vice president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, said the failure to liquidate cash advances by these LGUs is in violation of Commission on Audit Circular No. 97-002 and Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code.

For his part, Macuto assured Abrematea that he will give the list of LGUs that have not settled their cash advances with the DSWD-8.

Macuto said he will be meeting next week with COA officials in Eastern Visayas to discuss the financial problem affecting the various LGUS. (FREEMAN)