Capitol fails to collect P11.6M eight-year loan

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has asked the province of Cebu to recover the P11.6 million it loaned to various non-government organizations, cooperatives and rural banks that it failed to recover for more than eight years already.

In its 2013 audit report, COA discovered that the amount could not be ascertained due to the absence of pertinent records or documents, making the account doubtful as to its collectability, validity and propriety.

“We recommend that the Provincial Accounting Office exert more effort in the retrieval of loan documents to establish their validity and propriety and send demand letters to the borrowers to collect these outstanding loans charged against the 20% development fund,” COA said.

Of the total balance of P11.69 million as of December 31, 2013, P4.5 million was identified in the audit report as NGO lump sum while the rest were granted to the Rural Bank of Barili (P1.42 million), Rural Bank of Santander (P1.31million), Tuburan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P690,547.50), People’s Development Fund (P620,335), Danao City Agriculture and Fishery Development (P461,000), Bogo Mother Seton Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P441,207.50).

Kaputi Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P441,207.50), Asturias Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P311,643), Bank of East Asia (P311,643), San Juan Bautista Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P300,021.10), La Valle Berde Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P225,000).

Caduawan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P176,483), Hidden Valley Training Center and Resort Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P117,155.15), Borbon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P89,762.40), Kauswagan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (P88,216.30), Carmen Rural Bank (P88,216.20).

COA confirmation of the accounts with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) disclosed that seven of the 12 cooperatives granted with loans from the provincial government were still active and existing as of date of confirmation on May 2, 2014.

“Thereby collection of the outstanding balance of the loans is still possible,” COA said.

The observation is a reiteration of COA’s audit findings included in the Annual Audit Report for calendar year 2011 of the Province of Cebu.

In a reply to the Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM), the provincial accountant informed that the loan receivable pertains to various programs implemented by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist through various cooperatives.

The official also included loans granted to various waterworks associations for water related projects in various municipalities. The Provincial accountant is in the process of updating records on this regard. —/RHM “I terminated Chuntik for conflict of interest because he was included in the complaint I filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas over the alleged irregularity in the purchase of dental chair and others,” Alcover said.

He disclosed electrical and water connection to the gym, health center and day care center has been cut off recently because of unpaid bills.

“For almost three months, we have P11,000 plus bill for electricity and P1,000 plus for water supply,” he said.

Despite not receiving salary, he said his staff and employees remain intact.

In a separate development, the Commission on Elections has issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the decision of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) proclaiming Aileen Guardo as winner and duly elected barangay captain of Barangay Sambag 1.

Alcover said he appealed the decision of Judge Francis Rainier Navarrete of Branch 3 before the Comelec after his motion for reconsideration was denied.

Guardo earlier filed an election protest against Alcover, who was proclaimed by the barangay board of canvassers as winner in the 2013 barangay elections.

Based on reports, Alcover allegedly violated election laws like “widespread chaos, harassment, threat and intimidation, other than the election fraud and irregularities, misappreciated votes, votes erroneously not appreciated for the protestant, ballots prepared not by the voter, ballots prepared by only one person, or by two different persons, or with making patterns and dagdag-bawas.”

Alcover said that because of the TRO, he remains as barangay captain of Sambag 1.

The Comelec is slated to hear the injunction case he filed on July 25, 2014. — /JMO (FREEMAN)