THE Commission on Audit has ordered the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to pay a building owner’s claim totaling P5.35 million for unpaid rent on office space occupied by the agency.
Claimant Anita Alianza, attorney-in-fact for property owner Carlos Loreña, said the PRC signed a contract to rent 740 square meters of office space in the NB Building on Lopez Jaena St., Jaro, Iloilo City from January to December 2023 at P116,400 each month.
The agreement provided for renewal of the lease upon mutual consent of both parties once the original rent period expires.
Loreña said PRC stayed on until March 2019 but ceased sending rent payments starting June 2015, so that the unpaid amount totaled 46 months.
In support of his petition before the COA, the property owner attached copies of his title on the building, the original copy of the lease contract, and the demand letters he sent to PRC.
The PRC, in its answer dated July 9, 2021 through the Office of the Solicitor General, asked the COA to dismiss the claim on the ground that it lacked a cause of action.
It likewise invoked the lack of public bidding on the lease of office space, saying it was mandatory under the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) since the transaction involves the disbursement of public funds.
While the audit team noted the absence of a document from either the claimant or the PRC showing occupancy of the rented space for the relevant period, it was PRC Regional Office 6 that issued a certification that the agency held office on the premises until March 2019.
This was supported by a letter of notice to Loreña about the transfer of the office of PRC Region 6 to another address in March 2019.
“From the foregoing, this Commission grants the money claim. Lastly, the computation for the considered monthly rental rate of Pl 16,400 for the covered period of June 2015 to March 2019 is P5,354,400,” the COA en banc said.
