COA report hits PCGG's car rentals

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has questioned the travel expenses of some employees of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

In its 2009 audit report, the COA said PCGG personnel have been renting cars to conduct ocular inspections of various sequestered or surrendered corporations or properties.

“The use of taxis and chartered trips or special hires of PUVs, garage cars, launches, motorboats, sailboats, bancas and other extraordinary means of transportation shall not be allowed unless justified by the prevailing circumstances such as, but not limited to, carrying large amounts of cash, bulky equipment which cannot be conveniently transported through ordinary mode of transportation or important documents, inclement weather, accompanying dignitaries or high government officials, or when time is of the essence,” the COA said.

The COA said the PCGG also issued mission orders to inspect assets which have already been previously visited and declared non-existent.

“Various local travels of some employees who conducted ocular inspection of sequestered and or surrendered corporations and/or properties were not in accordance with Executive Order No. 248 as amended by Executive Order No. 298 dated March 23, 2004,” COA said.

As a general rule, only ordinary public conveyances or customary modes of transportation shall be used, the report said.

The COA said five trips of PCGG personnel supposedly incurred unnecessary expenses from April to December 2008, including one that was conducted during the Christmas season.

“Further verification of the above mission order also showed that the sequestered corporations which were the subject of ocular inspection on April 20 to 30, 2008 were among those already inspected last April 2 to 30, 2007 under Mission Order CLS 2007-0148,” the COA said.

“In addition, accomplishment reports submitted... stated that the United Agusan Agro-Forest Development Corp. and Agusan Corp. were already occupied by squatters and ceased to exist for several years now, respectively. In view thereof, said rental of car amounting to P10,500 will be disallowed.”

The COA said a review of liquidation vouchers showed that PCGG personnel hired a van for one day for P6,000.

“In addition, records show that ocular inspection of Lianga Bay Logging Company Inc. was already conducted last June 2007... and it was reported in the accomplishment report that the said company has ceased operation since 1992,” the COA said.

“In view thereof, the said rental of van amounting to P6,000 will be disallowed in audit.”

The COA disallowed a Dec. 20 to 31, 2008 trip of a PCGG employee who spent the Christmas season inspecting a non-specific sequestered and/or surrendered corporation.

“Review of the mission order and itinerary of travel submitted showed that the duration of travel was Dec. 20 to 31, 2008 that includes Christmas holidays,” COA said.

“Of the 12 days duration of travel, only three were working days and the rest were holidays.