COA flags Mountain Province over COVID-19 spending

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the provincial government of Mountain Province over its questionable expenditures, including the grant of hazard pay in connection with its COVID-19 response.

In its 2020 audit report released yesterday, the COA noted that the provincial government acquired a computer set, swabbing tent and medical equipment amounting to P217,950 charged from the P35.393 million it received from the national government under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

While the purchased items could be used for the provincial government’s pandemic response, the COA said the procurements have no approved funding.

“The disbursement of the grant other than the purpose for which it was appropriated may result in non-implementation of identified projects, programs and activities in the annual investment program for the Bayanihan grant,” the agency said.

The audit body said the provincial government resorted to emergency procurement of “highly needed supplies, materials, equipment, utilities and other critical services” for its COVID-19 related programs, which “were not supported with complete documentation.” It cited suppliers’ business permits and income tax returns.

In the same report, the audit body said the provincial government gave hazard pay to 20 employees totaling P362,750 “despite the absence of daily time records to support their claims.”

The COA said the provincial government also spent P1.2 million to rent a van used to transport 233 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) picked up in Metro Manila and Baguio City on various dates even when records of the general services office showed that it owned a coaster and three vans.

“The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer disclosed that they opted to rent a van to ensure immediate availability of transportation for returning OFWs as the said vehicles were assigned to other offices,” the audit report read.

However, the COA said the provincial government-owned vehicles were found available on most of the scheduled pickup dates, except on a few dates when these were used for other official business trips or were being repaired.

COA flags Mountain Province over COVID spending

ELIZABETH MARCELO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the provincial government of Mountain Province over its questionable expenditures, including the grant of hazard pay in connection with its COVID-19 response.

In its 2020 audit report released yesterday, the COA noted that the provincial government acquired a computer set, swabbing tent and medical equipment amounting to P217,950 charged from the P35.393 million it received from the national government under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

While the purchased items could be used for the provincial government’s pandemic response, the COA said the procurements have no approved funding.

“The disbursement of the grant other than the purpose for which it was appropriated may result in non-implementation of identified projects, programs and activities in the annual investment program for the Bayanihan grant,” the agency said.

The audit body said the provincial government resorted to emergency procurement of “highly needed supplies, materials, equipment, utilities and other critical services” for its COVID-19 related programs, which “were not supported with complete documentation.” It cited suppliers’ business permits and income tax returns.

In the same report, the audit body said the provincial government gave hazard pay to 20 employees totaling P362,750 “despite the absence of daily time records to support their claims.”

The COA said the provincial government also spent P1.2 million to rent a van used to transport 233 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) picked up in Metro Manila and Baguio City on various dates even when records of the general services office showed that it owned a coaster and three vans.

“The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer disclosed that they opted to rent a van to ensure immediate availability of transportation for returning OFWs as the said vehicles were assigned to other offices,” the audit report read.

However, the COA said the provincial government-owned vehicles were found available on most of the scheduled pickup dates, except on a few dates when these were used for other official business trips or were being repaired.

COA flags Mountain Province over COVID spending

ELIZABETH MARCELO

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out the provincial government of Mountain Province over its questionable expenditures, including the grant of hazard pay in connection with its COVID-19 response.

In its 2020 audit report released yesterday, the COA noted that the provincial government acquired a computer set, swabbing tent and medical equipment amounting to P217,950 charged from the P35.393 million it received from the national government under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

While the purchased items could be used for the provincial government’s pandemic response, the COA said the procurements have no approved funding.

“The disbursement of the grant other than the purpose for which it was appropriated may result in non-implementation of identified projects, programs and activities in the annual investment program for the Bayanihan grant,” the agency said.

The audit body said the provincial government resorted to emergency procurement of “highly needed supplies, materials, equipment, utilities and other critical services” for its COVID-19 related programs, which “were not supported with complete documentation.” It cited suppliers’ business permits and income tax returns.

In the same report, the audit body said the provincial government gave hazard pay to 20 employees totaling P362,750 “despite the absence of daily time records to support their claims.”

The COA said the provincial government also spent P1.2 million to rent a van used to transport 233 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) picked up in Metro Manila and Baguio City on various dates even when records of the general services office showed that it owned a coaster and three vans.

“The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer disclosed that they opted to rent a van to ensure immediate availability of transportation for returning OFWs as the said vehicles were assigned to other offices,” the audit report read.

However, the COA said the provincial government-owned vehicles were found available on most of the scheduled pickup dates, except on a few dates when these were used for other official business trips or were being repaired.