DOLE assures compliance with policies using public funds
THE Department of Labor and Employment assured tthe public that it strictly adheres to government budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations in the utilization of public funds.
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said this can be attested by the two consecutive “Unqualified” audit opinions, the highest audit rating, by the Commission on Audit (COA) for CYs 2019 and 2020 under his watch.
Bello said the DOLE, as the primary policy-making, programming, coordinating and administrative entity of the Executive branch of the government in the field of labor and employment, implements various programs and projects, including those COVID-19 programs under Bayanihan 1 and 2 – COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Barangay ko, Bahay ko (TUPAD-BKBK), and Abot-Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP).
“For the release of financial assistance, the DOLE Regional Offices use money remittance centers or grants cash advances to bonded Special Disbursing Officers to pay qualified beneficiaries. The DOLE also has Philippine Overseas Labor Offices to attend to the needs of our OFWs.
For the operations of the POLOs, the DOLE Central Office transfers funds to POLOs by way of cash advance for operating expenses, subject to liquidation by the accountable officers,” he explained.
Bello said of the P1.572 billion unliquidated cash advance as of Dec. 30, 2020, P974.513 million or 62% pertains to the DOLE- Central Office.
As of July 31, the amount has been reduced to P216.301 million or a settlement rate of 78%.
“The issues on the alleged excessive payments, denied claims and unclaimed assistance, were already addressed initially by the DOLE by way of management comments,” he said.
According to Bello, the DOLE has responded and complied with the COA observations and recommendations. It will also submit an updated compliance report within sixty days from receipt of the COA Report last July 29.
“Again, we stress that the DOLE is adherent to pertinent rules and regulations on fiscal matters,” he said.
