GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Commission on Audit (COA) has raised serious concerns over hundreds of job order (JO) and casual workers hired by the General Santos City government who were found to be “unaccounted for” during a recent personnel validation, casting doubt on their actual employment status and the propriety of wage payments made to them.

In its 2024 audit report, COA disclosed that out of 3,296 JO and casual personnel listed by the city government, only 2,526 were successfully validated during the audit period. The remaining 770 personnel could not be physically or administratively verified, prompting state auditors to question whether public funds may have been disbursed to workers whose services could not be clearly established.

Among those unvalidated were 27 personnel from the City Mayor’s Office, 46 from the Local School Board, 66 from the Integrated Barangay Affairs Division, 115 from the City Vice Mayor’s Office, and 192 individuals assigned to the Peace and Order Program–Local Task Force, among others.

“Thus, the presence of unaccounted Job Order and Casual employees casts doubt on the propriety and regularity of the wage payments,” COA stated, underscoring potential lapses in internal controls and personnel management.

State auditors further cited the failure of concerned administrative officers and department heads to provide adequate supporting documents to substantiate claims that the unverified personnel were on official field assignments at the time of validation. These documents include travel orders, attendance records, and other proofs of service.

“While the Audit Team acknowledges and appreciates the subsequent efforts of Management to ensure the presence of personnel in the office, it is noted with concern that several individuals remain unverified as to the actual rendition of their services,” COA said.

The commission warned that the situation exposes the local government to the risk of continued disbursement of public funds to personnel whose performance of duties cannot be duly ascertained, a scenario that undermines accountability and fiscal prudence under existing laws and regulations.

In response, Lorelie Pacquiao ordered tighter monitoring of attendance and work assignments of JO and casual workers under her administration. City Administrator Shandee Llido-Pestaño confirmed that the mayor has issued an executive order strengthening documentation and monitoring requirements for non-regular personnel.

Under the order, all departments are required to strictly comply with the submission of duly approved supporting documents such as Individual Pass or Time Adjustment Slips, travel orders, and leave forms to properly account for personnel attendance during official working hours.

“To further strengthen the resolve of the LGU, under the administration of Mayor Lorelie, nagpagawas siya ng Executive Order directing all departments na strict ang monitoring and documentation sa job orders—kung asa sila at any point of time, o kung mag-undertime sila, dapat properly documented,” Pestaño said.

She clarified that the move was prompted by COA’s 2024 Internal Audit Report and emphasized that department heads have been directed to develop their own monitoring tools to closely track the attendance and field assignments of their respective JO and casual workers.

“Ang mga departments, created tools nga mamonitor nila asa ang job orders nila karon,” she added.

City officials said the measures aim to address audit findings, ensure transparency in personnel management, and safeguard public funds by ensuring that wages paid correspond to verifiable services actually rendered.