ROXAS City – The city government instituted corrective measures on the “significant findings” stated in the Commission Audit’s (COA) 2020 Annual Audit Report (AAR) of Roxas City, according to Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.
“We already addressed the findings as early as June 2021 because we believe ang findings sa COA (are for) corrective measures,” Dadivas stressed during a press conference.
Among others, according to state auditors, 70 percent of the appropriated and programmed projects under the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund was not fully utilized, thus weakened the attainment of objectives to reduce disaster preparedness and response capabilities this time of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Gin-correct ta,” said the mayor. “Kon sang una ginpabayaan nila, kita indi kita magpasugot. Gusto ta kay-uhon. Dapat lang nga kay-uhon kag sundon ang gin-suggest sang COA kay para na sa kaayuhan, for transparency and also for the city.”
Dadivas also addressed the over P1.36 billion in City Properties and Equipment under “Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) mentioned in Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) No. 2021-004 dated Feb. 17, 2021. It stated that, “the annual physical inventory of (PPE) was not conducted and report on the physical count was not submitted to the Audit Team, thus resulted in difficulty in ascertaining the existence, condition, completeness and correctness of the PPE account balance…”
PPE referred to the fixed assets of the city government which included buildings, machinery, land, office equipment, furniture and vehicles.
COA recommended remedial measures which included, among others, to prepare the Report on the Physical Count of Property, Plant and Equipment (RPCPPE) and expedite the inventory-taking in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
Dadivas said these COA recommendations were already addressed.
In fact, he added, he issued an Administrative Oder creating a special committee on inventory, appraisal and disposal of these properties.
“It doesn’t not speak of money or questionable disbursement of funds or any expenditures. Wala ‘ni involved nga kwarta,” clarified Dadivas.
Thus, he stressed, “Ang pagpagwa sini malisyoso. Ang ila sini intension is to discredit or dishonor my being. It is an attack on my character and reputation and also to the institution of the Roxas City Government.”
Part of the COA report, specifically about PPE, was posted by Provincial Administrator Edwin Monares in his Facebook account. He captioned it: “The Liberal Party in Capiz is questioning the AOM of COA involving the amount of 241M for medicines and medical supplies and 17.5M that was merely listed on a different account. These politicians with the brand of LYING and DECEIVING the people of Capiz are now telling everyone that the provincial government is corrupt as evidenced by the AOM. Our concerned officials has (sic) answered this already. If the Liberal Party is to believed (sic) in their LIES and DECEPTIONS, then how could the City Government under the leadership of an LP stalwart explain the 1.336 BILLIONS, not millions subject of AOM?”
Dadivas described this Facebook post as “highly malicious, and evidently intended to impute, even without proof, false accusation, and intentionally put discredit or dishonor on the very character and integrity” of the city mayor as well as, on the good name of the Roxas City government.
Dadivas said he would file charges against the Provincial Administrator, probably cyber libel.
“We will exhaust all legal remedies para maleksyunan si PA Monares. Ang iya malisyoso, iresponsabli, binutig nga post kag pagpabangud nga wala sang pruweba gintuyo niya nga samadon kag higkuan angakon karakter kag integridad lakip na ang maayo nga ngalan sang Roxas City Government,” said Dadivas.
He believes this has something to do with politics.
“This is political already. Why gin-drag mo ang ngalan sang partido? Kon gina-question ya ang akon administrasyon, kontani ako na lang…” said Dadivas.
He added: “2020 ang COA findings pero ginpagwa subong lang nga Pebrero nga coming to the election campaign. Malisyoso kay kon gustohon pagwaon, tani sang una pa.”
Dadivas further emphasized that this PPE account balance (net depreciation) is an accumulated value of the PPE since the previous administrations.
COA observed there was a failure to properly record and inventory these PPE.
Dadivas said this matter had been properly addressed already by placing appropriate measures and systems and procedures as prescribed by COA itself.
During the press conference, Dadivas was joined by Clara Samante, the COA auditor assigned in the city in 2010.
She shared that between 2010 to 2013, they conducted a physical inventory of the PPE spearheaded by the General Service Office (GSO) and the Accounting’ Office. However, she said, this was not sustained, pointing out COA’s findings that there was no reconciliation between the Accounting and the GSO.
“And there was no physical inventory…Kay kontani umpisahan na to namon, ginsige-sige na lang to,” Samante said.
Dadivas said this only shows that even during the previous administration, there were already COA findings.
Moreover, Dadivas said, it was malicious and irresponsible to equate the issue subject of their AOM which, according to him, involved medicine and medical supplies, to the AOM issued to the Roxas City Government which essentially involved only the inventory of PPE.
The city mayor also emphasized that in 2020, the city’s annual budget was over P1 billion – the first time since Roxas City became a charter city.
“Pero kon imo lantawon ang iya alegasyon nga P1.36 billion, sobra pa ya. Lapaw pa nga daw pagwaon ya nadula ini nga kwarta. Ang budget namon was only P1 billion? Klaro gid ya ang intensyon patalangon ang mga pumoluyo sa syudad sang Roxas,” said Dadivas.
The city mayor expressed confidence that the people won’t believe the allegation.
“Kay nakita ya sang mga tawo ang mga serbisyo sa Roxas City,” Dadivas emphasized./PN
