Request to charge expense under CSA account junked

CEBU, Philippines - Citing irregularities, the Committee on Budget and Finance of the Cebu City Council did not approve the request to charge the amount spent in the selection of the 75 distinguished families in the city under the City Sponsored Activity account.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, committee chairperson, found out that the purchase request prepared by the Office of the Mayor was processed ahead before the request for council’s approval was made.

Osmeña said that budget officer Nelfa Briones and city treasurer Ofelia Oliva processed the inclusion of the P331,000 spent during the selection under the City Sponsored Activity account on March yet. In fact it was approved by Rama on March 13, 2012.

However, the request for the council’s approval was only made on August 31, 2012. The request was made by Philip Zafra, Rama’s chief of staff, through Councilor Edgardo Labella.

“The purchase request was processed even before the City Council can approve its charging to the said account,” said Osmeña, who explained that the correct procedure would have been to seek council’s approval first.

Osmeña also observed that while the resolution of Labella only mentioned about the expenses for food there were other expenses that Zafra allegedly wanted to charge under the same account.

The documents show that aside from the 700 packed meals, 600 packed dinner, snacks for 2,800 people there were 100 pieces of T-shirts that were mentioned in the purchase request.

“Where are the attendance sheets of all the activities conducted, when the activities were conducted and what are the various activities mentioned in the purchase request?” asked Osmeña.

Osmeña said that before the committee may approve the request it would be prudent that a certificate of availability of funds out of the City Sponsored Activities account would be submitted first to the City Council. – (FREEMAN)