NI NOEL ABUEL
Ibinuyag ng Commission on Audit (COA) na nasa pag-iingat ng Procurement Service ng Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) ang cash deposits na nagkakahalaga ng P3.001 bilyon sa isang high-yield savings account (HYSA) sa loob ng mahigit sa limang taon na.
Sa pagsisiyasat ng government auditors sa PS-DBM officials, nabigo ang mga ito na linawin kung saan nanggaling ang kabuuang halaga, kasabay ng pahayag na dapat na ibigay ito sa national government at ibalik sa national treasury.
“According to the OIC-Director AFG (Administrative and Finance Group), the fund source of the P3 billion deposited with the DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) could not be specifically identified. Also, the High Yield Savings account has been established for more than five years and has remained inactive,” sabi ng audit team.
“Why the PS-DBM kept such a big amount deposited for half a decade is a puzzle to auditors as they pointed out that the agency is supposed to use the funds entrusted to it, not invest them for gains. It is not in PS’s mandated to make investments and it has no authority to invest in High Yield Savings account. The practice of investing cash in High Yield Savings account, therefore, deviates from its mandate of procurement of CSEs (common use supplies and equipment) which requires utilization of funds,” tanong pa ng COA.
Natuklasan ang bank account was kasunod ng pagsusuri sa Cash in Bank – Time Deposits/ Local Currency.
Noong 2020, kinuwestiyon din ng COA ang iba pang HYSA na minamantine ng PS-DBM sa Land Bank of the Philippines na naging dahilan upang ma-terminate ang account at ang halagang ito ay kasalukuyang account ng ahensya.
Subalit ang high yield account sa DBP ay hindi gumalaw ngunit kumita nginteres na umaabot sa P1.363 milyon na naibigay sa Bureau of Treasury noong Marso 18, 2022.
Inatasan ng COA ang pinuno ng PS-DBM Treasury Division na isara na ang high yield account at i-remit ang kabuuang P3 bilyon sa BTr.
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