THE Commission on Audit said it is not the Department of Tourism (DOT) but its former officials who are liable for unpaid bills being claimed by Discovery Shores Boracay amounting to P456,716.50.
In a decision released only last September 15, the COA Commission Proper denied the petition filed by Discovery World Corp., operator of Discovery Shores, against the DOT for payment of hotel rooms, meals and other services incurred on Feb. 28 to March 3, 2018 and April 25 to 27, 2018.
Based on the resort hotel’s claim, accommodations of five DOT officials totaled P143,000 at P13,000 per room each night, on top of P313,716.50 for meals, beverages and other services at the Sands Restaurant, Sand Bar, and Indigo Bar and Restaurant.
Based on reservation contracts signed by DOT Region 6 regional director Helen Catalbas, the reserved rooms at Discovery Shores were for Secretary Wanda Teo-Tulfo and Undersecretary Katherine de Castro, both for two days or P26,000 each; assistant secretary Frederick Alegre for four days or P52,000; and Angelito Ucol and Julius Disamburun for one day each or P13,000.
While there were only a few DOT officials who attended, the hotel’s bill showed meals were served for “25 to 35 persons” ranging from P207 to P48,659.
According to audit records, the DOT officials’ stay at the resort hotel was to participate in the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that discussed the rehabilitation of Boracay Island and included officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The COA noted that the authority given to Catalbas stated that the expenses shall be charged against the budget of the Office of the DOT Secretary.
A copy of the resort’s statement of accounts was forwarded by the regional director to the Office of the DOT Secretary followed by demand letters. However, Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat who replaced Teo at the DOT, replied that the agency is precluded from settling the bill since the appropriation or allotment which should have been used to pay it was no longer valid. She recommended that the resort instead file a petition for compensation with the COA.
In support of its claim, Discovery Resorts submitted DOT’s certificate of non-payment, reservation contracts signed by Catalbas, guest folio invoices, and charge slips signed by Catalbas, Alegre and De Castro.
In its reply, the DOT noted the absence of a certificate of availability of funds and proof of compliance with RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The audit team and the supervising auditor echoed the same observations, adding that the meal expenses were not supported by minutes of the meetings, attendance sheets, and similar documentation.
Likewise, they noted the lack of a travel order for Disamburun.
In its ruling, the COA proper held that the DOT officials’ spending was unreasonable for being too expensive.
“Based on the records, the rate in Discovery Shores is P13,000 per room per night. This exceeds the P400 per day hotel/lodging fees allowed …even assuming that the five DOT officials and employees occupied a single room,” the commission said.
Even if complete support documents were submitted, the COA said it still “would not justify selecting a five-star resort as venue for the meetings and accommodation of government personnel, considering that Boracay Island has a number of other reasonably priced hotels/lodging houses.”
“To grant the amount of claim which is immoderate and above the normal and reasonable rate of expenditures, despite the lack of contract and supporting documents, would run counter with this Commission’s mandate to prevent excessive and extravagant expenditures,” the Commission said.
It recommended that Discovery Shores should try to collect payment from RD Catalbas “and/or the DOT personnel who benefited from its services.”
