DILG probes ‘ghost’ barangays

Photo by. GMA Network There would be no sacred cows. We just need the information, the data and we will conduct the investigation.

Department of Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año on Thursday vowed to look into the reported 27 “ghost” barangays in Manila uncovered by the Commission on Audit (CoA).

“You all know our emphasis in this administration: corruption. So, there would be no sacred cows. We just need the information, the data and we will conduct the investigation,” Año said.

In its 2017 audit report on the City of Manila, the CoA noted the city government earmarked 30 percent of its tax collection for 923 barangays, when data from the Liga ng mga Barangay indicated there are only 896 barangays in the city.

CoA auditors stumbled upon at least 27 “ghost” barangays when examining the list of villages entitled to their share of 30 percent of real property taxes (RPT) totaling P108.733.

It turned out that Barangay 10 was merged with Barangay 9 in 1994.

Likewise, the commission chided city officials for the delayed release of P952,225 million in RPT shares of 896 barangays.

“The release of the quarterly Real Property Tax shares for the 896 barangays of the city for 2017 in the amount of P952,225 million was delayed by 56 to 93 days contrary to Section 27 (D) of RA 7160,” CoA said.

Under the law local government units are required to release to the barangay governments their respective RPT shares within five days after the end of each quarter.

The CoA also said at least P2.04 billion in barangay shares was also withheld by the city government from 84 to 86 days during the first quarter of 2017. EWB