Malabon questioned on school budget

Manila, Philippines -- The Commission on Audit (COA) has assailed local officials of Malabon City for spending part of the special education budget for school maintenance in purchasing personal supplies for schoolchildren. In its 2012 audit report for the city government, COA also asked Mayor Antolin Oreta III to pursue legal steps in recovering or demanding the liquidation of over P41.8 million in cash advances that various incumbent and past city officials and other officers failed to account in the past 22 years. In the same report, state audit examiners noted that the city government has violated Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code for failing to conduct a general revision of real estate assessment of properties in the 21 barangay units in the city. Barangay Tonsuya, located at the heart of the city, has yet to experience real estate assessment revision since 1993, the COA said. Under the law, the city government is mandated to conduct a revision of assessed values of real estate every three years. COA accused Oreta of spending at least P3 million of the Special Education Fund for ''various personal and school supplies'' for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and Grade I and II classes in Malabon's public schools. Among the items purchased from SEF funds are raincoats, backpack bags, tumblers and school supplies. COA examination of SEF records also indicated that the city government deducted P22.5 million from the fund to pay for additional allowances for national government elementary and high school teachers. State auditors said budget for special education is strictly reserved for the maintenance of schoolrooms and buildings. The state audit body also chided the city government for the ballooning unliquidated cash advances, saying that officials must take legal steps to address the problem. COA revealed that of the total prior years outstanding balance of P20,599,569, P12,308,072 or 59 percent pertain to cash advances as early as 1990 granted to former city officials who are either retired from the service, resigned, deceased and/or whose whereabouts are unknown.