GOVERNMENT auditors have reported various deficiencies in Sorsogon province’s implementation of the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers” (TUPAD) emergency employment program, including the intervention of four Provincial Board members, signatures that did not tally with the payroll, and insufficient supporting documents.
Records obtained by the audit team showed the province received P94.47 million for the TUPAD program from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with 9,447 targeted individuals.
Of the said amount, P78.89 million was distributed as wages for worker-beneficiaries while P4.73 million was spent on personal protective equipment (PPE) sets leaving a balance of P10.85 million.
While most of the documentary requirements were complied with, auditors said certifications from the barangays and local government units that the workers performed the job they were assigned were not submitted together with pictures of workers in action and accomplishment reports on community disinfection/sanitation, cleaning and de-clogging of drainage and waterways, and street beautification drives.
The COA pointed out that these documents were necessary as proof that the required four hours of work for 30 days were rendered.
Likewise, auditors questioned the involvement of four Provincial Board members in the execution of the project, noting that they appeared as signatories in the daily time records (DTRs) of 56 TUPAD beneficiaries involving payments of wages totaling P520,800.
“Board members signed in the ‘verified as prescribed office hours’ portion of the DTRs when there was no proof that they should partake in the supervision of the work done. Functions of the board members are legislative in nature, but they participated in the execution/ implementation of the TUPAD Program,” the audit team said.
One board member signed on the DTRs of 24 workers, the second one for 19, the third for eight, and the fourth for five TUPAD beneficiaries.
