Youth literacy, financial proficiency

After completing with amazing success its youth literacy program and attaining in the process national and regional awards of recognition from the national government, Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto Rubiano shifted the city’s attention to upgrading barangay financial proficiency.

Included in the city mayor’s novel idea are a thorough review of what they have learned under the book, in schools, and the rules and regulations imposed by the Commission on Audit while now in government service.

Mayor Emi required all 201 barangays of Pasay City with their heads, and kagawads, including bookkeeper, treasurer, and secretary to attend the three-day barangay financial proficiency forum.

The perspective of the forum was constructive, to educate, never to point out the fault, but to enable those who may have reached the advanced age to learn, but never too late anyway, to assist, to facilitate work; and help everyone to gain the desired efficiency, economy, and effectiveness in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.

The forum covered reorientation on the new accounting system under the Philippine Public Sector Accounting Standard in the presentation of the financial statements and reports of the Barangay in accordance with the requirements of the Office of the City Accountant and the City Auditor’s Office, at every calendar year-end.

The finance group of every barangay should submit the PPSTA reports to the City Accountant every 10th day of the month. If after the 10th day they still fail to submit the reports, they are given five days within which to submit them.

If after the 15th day they still fail, the Chief Accountant will render a report to the Office of the Auditor containing the list of Barangays that failed to submit PPSTA reports which are necessary for the timely preparation by the Office of the Chief Accountant of the Financial Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Commission on Audit.

Under such a situation, there is always the possibility that CoA may freeze all financial transactions of the barangays concerned.

Other interesting topics covered in the forum were the non-preparation and submission of monthly bank reconciliation of the monthly bank reconciliation statements which resulted in the unreconciled discrepancy between the book balance and bank balance of the cash account, thus affecting the accuracy, completeness, and existence of Cash in Bank — Local Currency, Current Account as presented in the financial statements.

Another topic that evoked questions and discussions was the problems encountered in procurement. Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform

Act, provides for the modernization, standardization, and regulation of the procurement activities of the Government and other purposes.

For the barangay, the Bids and Award Committee shall be composed of at least five but not more than seven regular members of the Sangguniang Barangay, except the PB. The PB, being the local chief executive, shall designate the members of the BAC. The members shall elect among themselves who shall be the chairman and vice-chairman. In no case, shall the local chief executive and/or the approving authority be the Chairman or a member of the BAC.

In addition, Sec. 37, Article XI of RA 9184 directs the Head of the Procuring Entity, this case the PB, to issue a Notice of Award to the lowest bidder within a period not exceeding 15 calendar days from the determination and declaration by the BAC of the bid and thereafter, to enter into a contract with the said lowest bidder within ten calendar days of the Notice of Award.

The Office of the City Chief Accountant advised all barangay officials concerned to comply fully with the requirements of the Commission on Audit regarding procurement, and most important of all, the submission of reports within the period required by Presidential Decree 1445.

“Another topic that evoked questions and discussions was the problems encountered in procurement. Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

“Mayor Emi required all 201 barangays of Pasay City with their heads, and kagawad, including bookkeeper, treasurer, and secretary to attend the three-day barangay financial proficiency forum.