GOVERNMENT auditors have directed the provincial government of Agusan del Norte to distribute as soon as possible hundreds of sanitation and protective items, and even canned goods, donated by various sectors last year soon after the COVID-19 pandemic started.
In a report released May 20 this year, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the donated items have hardly moved since they were received by the province starting March 2020.
Among the items found in storage are hundreds of bottles of alcohol in 350 ml, 500 ml, 60 ml, and gallons; cloth and surgical masks, hygiene kits, PPE bodysuits, face shields, food packs, and cans of corned beef and beef loaf.
“Review of the records submitted by the PDRRMO (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) showed that there were several items donated to the province that were still undistributed and in large quantity as of December 31, 2020,” the audit team said.
Sought for a comment, the provincial government informed auditors that it made procurements of similar items and there were times when release and distribution were drawn from the donated stocks and sometimes from the purchased stocks.
It said the unused donated stocks are being saved “for future use.”
The COA report said that in one instance, the province received evaporated and powdered milk from the Department of Education and fruit juice from Fruitas Group Inc.
Provincial officials said the juice packs had “questionable expiry dates” and were discarded.
However, the PDRRMO said the fruit juices were consumed by its personnel while rendering 24/7 operation during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“The expired items should not have been received in the first place and immediately returned to the donor or declared as spoiled/waste upon its discovery and, therefore no longer fit for human consumption,” the COA said.
Likewise, the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) and the Provincial Accounting Office (PAccO) said they had no completed records of the donations as there was no coordination with the PDRRMO during delivery of disaster relief aid or donations.
The COA stressed that while its Circular No. 2020-009 allowed a temporary relaxation of rules regarding donations, the local government units are still required to exercise basic controls so that donation in cash and in kind are properly accounted for. — Peter Tabingo
