Cebu City gets new treasurer

CEBU, Philippines — The Bureau of Local Government Finance of the Department of Finance has designated former Cebu City accountant Arlene Rentuza as the new acting treasurer.

This was after the term of service of former city treasurer Veronica Morelos ended last Monday.

“Ms. Veronica A. Morelos is hereby instructed to turn-over subject office to Ms. Arlene O. Rentuza together with, among others, cash, properties and equipment, books of accounts including cash books and accountable forms and clear herself from money and property accountabilities as City Treasurer thereat,” read a portion of the BGLF’s order dated December 3.

With this, Rentuza officially starts her duties as the new city acting treasurer effective yesterday.

To recall, Morelos assumed office as the city acting treasurer from December 2017 up to last December 10 this year.

Morelos said his appointment as treasurer before was just a temporary designation in order to replace retired treasurer Tessie Camarillo.

“Actually, ang akong pagka-assign as city treasurer is just a reassignment man and ang akong appointment is city admin man as the assistant administrator for administration mao man g’yud na,” she told reporters yesterday.

The purpose of the said reassignment is not to leave the duties and responsibilities of a city treasurer unattended.

At present, Morelos is waiting for Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s order for her specific function in the City Administration Office.

The BGLF detailed Rentuza as city acting treasurer for a period of one year upon the recommendation of Osmeña last November 16.

The said order has also directed Rentuza to observe the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 and other existing laws, rules and regulations.

“…As well as the bonding requirements for local treasurers prescribes under Local Treasury Regulations No. 2-81 dated March 27, 1981 of the Department of Finance, and Treasurer Regulations No. 01-95 dated December 5, 1995 of the Bureau of the Treasury,” it added.

After being appointed as acting treasurer, Rentuza vowed to perform her duties and responsibilities well by duly collecting taxes from business establishments and others.

“Primarily, we do what we are mandated to do which is to collect the taxes. Mao g’yud na ang primordial concern sa office. Of course, in accordance with the government regulations on disbursement of funds, COA dictated policies and other pertinent laws governing the management of funds,” she said.

It is not the first time that she was appointed city treasurer as she performed the same task after Osmeña was reelected in 2016.

Since 2006, Rentuza has been serving the city’s constituents. Aside from being the accountant in previous years, she was also assigned in Internal Audit Service Office during the term of former Mayor Michael Rama.

Meanwhile, Mark Jason Tirol will sit as the new acting accountant, he is the former division head of Financial Control Division. (FREEMAN)