The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA) signed a joint circular on the Revised Manual on the Disposal of Government Properties last Tuesday.
In a statement, the DBM said the revised manual seeks to update the National Budget Circular (NBC) No. 425 dated 28 January 1992 prescribing the Manual on the Disposal of Government Property to guide the agencies concerned in their disposal undertakings.
“A lot of our rules and regulations, circulars and memoranda were done from way back. I think, with the changing times, with the modern times, it’s just but wise for us to also evolve and try to cope with what’s happening around us,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
“It’s quite difficult to dispose of our government properties, goods and materials. So I asked our team if we can study and maybe upgrade and amend the manual so it will be easier for us to do so,” she added.
Among the salient features of the revised manual is the determination of its coverage and scope of implementation, which will cover all government properties that are movable or personal, purchased, owned or otherwise acquired including those donated to, stocked and used by the government in its operations, excluding real properties, public records and imported properties consigned to the government.
It also identifies the duties and responsibilities of accountable personnel, as well as the procedures and methods in the conduct of disposal.
The revised manual also includes the constitution of a Disposal Committee, composed of a chairperson and its members. It likewise sets the conditions of properties for disposal, and the various modes of disposal.
Further, the revised manual sets the guidelines and procedures for the sale of properties for disposal, including the adjustment of appraised value and the rules to follow for auction procedures.
The implementation of the revised manual will allow the utilization of properties to their full potential and disposal of said properties upon the end of their useful life to ultimately save the government from unnecessary expenditures and help maximize savings, the DBM said.
Furthermore, systematic and timely disposal proceedings are essential to avoid further deterioration of the properties and consequent depreciation in their value, the agency added.
It would ensure the elimination of the continuing storage costs of the government, relieve accountable employees from unnecessary or excess accountability and effectively decongest government offices.
