Stricter rules adopted after Rama’s aide fails to settle P3M in cash advances

CEBU, Philippines - Stricter rules are now being imposed by the Cebu City Government following the failure of Mayor Michael Rama’s administrative assistant to liquidate P3 million in cash advances granted last year.

 â€œIstrikto na mi ron…magpadala na mi og (We are now stricter. We immediately send a) letter bisan ginagmay na (even if it involves a small we) amount amo i-notify to settle the balances kay considered receivable man sa ilaha (on their part).  So next salary period i-notify sa (of the) balance,” said City Financial Control Division Officer-in-charge (OIC) Mark Jason Tirol.

He said Carlos “Charlie” Reyes, a special disbursement officer, managed to liquidate just around a million of the P4 million cash advances granted to him last year.

The accounting department has withheld Reyes’ salaries since January because of his failure to liquidate the P3,993,200 released last July 3 and August 7, 2012.

Tirol said the cash advances were for the prizes and trophies for the winners of basketball tournaments in different barangays.

He said Reyes earlier told him that he could not yet fully liquidate the amount because he has yet to gather all supporting documents.

Diwa Cuevas, OIC city treasurer has already sent a letter to the Commission on Audit (COA) informing state auditors that Reyes’ salaries had been withheld pending his liquidation of the entire amount.

Tirol said that because of the huge amount involved, they are now implementing stricter rules in relation to cash advances.

He said he already wrote COA about it but is yet to get a response.

“Sa pagkakaron sige lang sa ko padala og (For now, I always send) demand letters,” Tirol added.

He said he would send three demand letters to all who still have unliquidated cash advances; afterwards, the legal office would identify probable legal actions.

He also blamed COA for what happened.

“Ang (The) COA naa man pud (also has) lapses ngano nahitabo ni (why this happened) kay work man nila ang pagtan-aw o (because it is its role to)  monitor,” he said. (FREEMAN)