CoA queries House over deficient bills

The Commission on Audit (CoA) found lapses in the accomplishment of 454 Property Acknowledgment Receipts (PARs) at the House of Representatives, which establish ownership of government property or equipment by a particular official.

State auditors noted that many PARs were not properly accomplished, while another portion was not signed, contrary to the provisions of the Government Accounting Manual for Government Agencies.

The audit found that 412 receipts did not indicate the date the equipment was received or when the designated Property Custodian issued it, preventing the agency from establishing a specific timeline for the mandatory renewal of the PAR.

Meanwhile, the remaining documents lacked signatures, leaving the issuance and receipt of equipment or property unconfirmed.

It was further noted that two PARs meant for motor vehicles, distributed to personnel from the lower chamber, were also part of the deficient receipts.

Differences in practice

State auditors said the issue mainly revolved around differences in process when issuing the receipts.

It was stated that the Transport Facilities Group previously handled the issuance before handing it over to the Procurement and Supply Management Service, which also led to the need for an additional requirement.

The inspection of the documents submitted for the two motor vehicles revealed that only one requirement was met, while the other was not.

“Consequently, the effect is as if no PARs were maintained to establish accountability for the motor vehicles,” the report read.

CoA underscored that a PAR’s importance is to ensure accountability in handling government property.

It said the requirement was meant to safeguard government assets while certifying that property records were accurate and reliable.