OFFICIALS and employees of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) have failed to convince the Commission on Audit to set aside notices of disallowance (NDs) previously issued against longevity pay totaling P5.166 million and hazard pay amounting to P1.121 million paid to them in 2013.
Instead, the COA Commission Proper declared the disallowances “final and executory” in a decision signed October 7, 2021 but released only this week.
The ruling was the third one issued by the COA during the year, all requiring the refund of illegal extra compensation paid to MWSS personnel.
In February 2021, the commission also affirmed NDs against P4.71 million additional allowances paid by MWSS, followed by a second ruling in October 2021 ordering the refund of P5.39 million unauthorized representation and transportation allowances given to MWSS-Central Office officials.
The latest ruling denied the petition for review filed by MWSS Legal Services Department manager Darlina T. Uy, Operations Support Department manager Anabella S. Altuna, and other agency officials.
COA Chair Michael G. Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc held that the appeal was filed long after the 180 days reglementary period has lapsed.
“Compliance with the procedural requirement on reglementary period has to be strictly adhered to. There was no plausible explanation given for the delay in the filing of the petition. Hence, this Commission finds no compelling reason to justify the relaxation of the rules,” the COA declared.
Even so, the Commission Proper held that an evaluation of the appeal on merits would not have granted petitioners the relief they sought.
“Even on the merits, the petition would still be denied since the payment of hazard and longevity pays for calendar year 2013 has no legal basis, considering that the same was authorized only through board resolutions and without the approval or confirmation from the Office of the President through the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations. Therefore, the disallowance was proper,” it added.
