More than P100B in gov’t transactions questionable – COA

MANILA, Philippines – State auditors have found questionable more than P100.83 billion ($2.26 billion) in disbursements made by various government agencies in 2013.

In a recently released summary of its accomplishments for that year, the Commission on Audit (COA) said it had issued 38,110 notices of disallowance (ND), charge (NC), and suspension (NS) in 2013 to cover these transactions.

Only P2.07 billion of the questionable disbursements has been settled, the state auditors said.

COA, however, didn’t specify which national government agencies, local government units, government-owned or controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and water districts were given these notices.

According to the COA report, the disallowed disbursements and expenditure amounted to P26.12 billion. Only P96 million of the amount have been settled.

Notices of disallowance are issued on expenditures that are considered “illegal, irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable.”

The notices of charge covered P53.38 billion, with almost all the disbursements – P53.17 billion – made by national government agencies. Only P4 million of the amount has been settled, COA said.

A notice of charge is issued when government assets that are disposed of have been under-appraised or under-assessed, or when revenue and regulatory agencies under-collect.

Notices of suspension covered P21.33 billion, only P1.97 billion of which has been settled.

A notice of suspension is issued when transactions are of “doubtful legality, validity or propriety.”  

Under COA rules, government officials and employees who are subjects of notices of disallowance and notices of charge are liable to return the amount involved. These notices become final if no appeal is filed against them within 6 months from the date of receipt. – Rappler.com 

*US$1 = P44.663