BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor- elect Alfredo Benitez yesterday disclosed P1.5 billion transactions of the Bacolod City government that according to him, based on Commission on Audit reports, “would require a more detailed examination.”
“These funds include those under cash grants and cash advances, landfill facilities and sanitation services, construction in progress accounts, emergency funds, local disaster and risk reduction management funds, supplies inventory accounts, unimplemented projects, quick response funds, weakness in recording and monitoring,” a statement from Benitez camp said.
Lawyer Lyzander Dilag, spokesman of Benitez, in a press conference yesterday at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City, read a three-page statement and briefer released to the media.
It said that cash grants and cash advances amounting to P270 million “were reported to remain unliquidated within the prescribed period.” This means documents needed to liquidate the funds have not yet been submitted long after the release of the funds.
The statement added that from 2017 to 2019, government officials, employees and “special disbursing officers” received P130 million in advances while from 2017 to 2019, various non- government organizations received grants amounting to P49 million.
In 2020, the statement said government officials and employees related to the COVID-19 pandemic response advanced P183 million while medical supplies and protective personal equipment were purchased advanced through some employees reached P38 million.
One of the items in the list is “construction in progress account” that reached P1.004 billion, it further said.
At least P506 million was also paid to contractors for landfill and sanitation services for collection and hauling services and landfill preparation without the needed supporting documents, it also said.
The Benitez camp also noted “weaknesses in recording and monitoring” which are “gross inefficiencies in recording and monitoring funds and projects in the General Services, City Engineer and City Accountants offices in 2017 and 2018 that totaled P177 million.”
During the press conference, Marilou Reyes, a retired state auditor of the Commission of Audit, was named by Benitez to head the Truth Commission.
With Reyes are incoming City Administrator Atty. Pacifico Maghari III, incoming City Legal Atty. Officer Romeo Carlos Jr, and another member yet to be named.
Benitez is set to issue an Executive Order creating the commission that will ensure a clean and transparent local government.
It will be tasked to investigate transactions of the past administration.
The committee will also review contracts and look at the validity and legal soundness of the transactions and these contracts will be referred to the Commission on Audit for action.
As mayor, it is my duty to ensure that all taxes and revenues of the City are applied in accordance with the law and that all moneys and properties of the City are properly safeguarded, Benitez said.*
