THE Philippine Information Agency (PIA) has accumulated P149.29 million in unutilized funds from various completed projects that should have been refunded to the source agencies, according to the Commission on Audit.
Of the total amount, P110.174 million was from national government agencies, (NGAs) with the Department of Energy accounting for P72.35 million; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) P19.56 million; and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) with P7.41 million.
The balance of P39.12 million in PIA’s unutilized funds came from projects with different government-owned or controlled corporations.
Records showed the funds have been piling up since 2014
“Despite the completion of intended projects, the PIA failed to return the unused project funds to the SA’s (source agencies). Such failure to resulted in idleness which does not promote the efficient utilization of government resources,” the COA pointed out.
The PIA management said its Accounting Section has started reconciliation of records of unaccounted balances from NGAs and GOCCs with instructions to effect partial refunds when possible.
However, auditors noted that PIA could encounter problems trying to refund the full P149.29 million to the source agencies since its Cash-Treasury trust account with the Bureau of Treasury holds a balance of only P119.835 million or a shortage of P29.458 million.
The PIA explained that its accounting officers have found additional disbursements based on reports dating back 2012 to 2014 that still require verifications.
The audit team recommended that priority be given to the analysis and reconciliation of Due to NGAs and GOCCS accounts to establish the correct balances.
It reminded the agency to abide by the provisions of COA Circular No. 94-013 on the return of unused project fund balances to source agencies promptly once the particular program or project had been completed.
