LGU flagged over excessive food expenses

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the provincial government of Palawan for spending too much on meals and snacks as well as for the irregular procurement of food supplies for inmates.

In a 2019 audit report on Palawan, the COA said the provincial government spent P24.4 million for meals and snacks supposedly served to visitors and during meetings and sessions, including in the offices of the governor and vice governor as well as  the provincial board.

State auditors said the expenses were 116 percent or P13.1 million in excess of the budget allocated by the provincial board in 2019 for such purposes, which was only P11.29 million.

The audit body said the provincial government’s action violated Republic Act (RA) 7160, which provides that no money should be sourced from the treasury, except when authorized by an appropriation ordinance or law.

The disbursements were charged under the provincial goverment’s representation expenses, which only allows  the serving of snacks or meals for visiting dignitaries of foreign governments or foreign missions, or when authorized by the President, the COA said.

“The meals and snacks were served for routinary or regular meetings in the offices of the governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan and other offices and committees,” it added.

State auditors said that none of the activities charged under the representation expenses involved holding receptions for visiting foreign dignitaries or those authorized by the President.

Expenses for meals and snacks served during regular meetings should be paid by local officials as they are given personal representation allowance for expenses related to the performance of their duties.

Food supplies for inmates

In the same audit report, the COA also noted the local goverment’s procurement of food supplies amounting to P22.25 million for inmates in the provincial jail.

The audit body said the food items were procured from various suppliers without public bidding, in violation of RA 9184 or the Goverment Procurement Reform Act.

It said there was also an excess of P3.1 million in the expenses incurred for the rice consumption of inmates.

The COA said that in 2019, the provincial government procured a total 5,347 sacks of rice amounting to P5.75 million for 883 detainees.

It said the 5,347 sacks of rice translates to 830 grams for each detainee per day, which is not the normal consumption of a person.