COA tells Gov. Vi to return 45M in employees’ bonuses in Batangas
The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered Batangas provincial officials and employees to return 45.352 million they rewarded themselves as additional year-end bonuses in 2014.
In an audit report released recently, COA disallowed the expenses as illegal for violating COA Circular No. 2013003.
State auditors said the circular prohibits payment of unauthorized allowances, incentives and other benefits in any amount except those expressly provided by law
like Republic Act No. 6758 or the Salary Standardization Law.
The COA has directed Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto to take steps in making all those who benefited from the unauthorized incentives to comply with the audit recommendation.
It was not immediately known whether or not the movie actress-turned-politician received a share of the bonus.
“Verification of the allowances, incentives and other benefits for which government employees are entitled to revealed that additional year-end bonus is not included. Hence, payment of additional year-end bonus to all officials and employees is irregular, resulting in audit disallowances of 45,352,843.82,” the COA said.
Santos-Recto was ordered to guarantee compliance and return the sums collected to the provincial coffers.
“We recommend that the Head of the Provincial Government cause the immediate refund of 45,352,843.82 representing the amount paid to all officials and employees… considering that the said disbursement of funds is irregular,” the Commission said.
The audit report noted that provincial officials and personnel received mid-year bonuses in May, 2014. Legal year-end bonuses were also distributed in November, 2014.
As a result, the additional yearend bonuses were already considered excessive.
COA noted that the larger share of the bonuses went to elected and appointive officials belonging to the higher salary brackets. They received an equivalent of full month’s pay as additional year end bonuses. On the other hand, employes paid 15,000 and below monthly received 10,000 each. To support the distribution of additional year-end bonuses by year-end of 2014, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Resolution Resolution No. 458 on December 3, 2014.
COA said the approval of the resolution is not an acceptable basis for distributing bonuses because only those bonuses and stipends specified under the Salary Standardization Law and those covered by circulars from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).