PCSO yet to settle P2.067 billion expenses disallowed by COA

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has yet to settle P2.067 billion worth of transactions disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA), which were  incurred between 2013 and 2018.

In COA’s annual audit report on PCSO, state auditors noted that of the total disallowed amount, P1.036 billion were incurred from November 2016 to July 2018 which included the following:

• P56,540,05 for payments for 12 pieces Of San Miguel Beer Light and 30 liters of Draft Beer consumed during Christmas celebration on December 19, 2017
• P291.48 million for overpriced procurement of lotto paper supplies from TMA Pty Limited through its subsidiary TMA Group Philippines.
• P519.9 million of various allowances, bonuses and other personal benefits of the officials and employees of PCSO
• P5.27 million for Car Loan and Assistance Plan
• P8.897 million worth of excess representation and transportation allowance and clothing allowance
• P71.99 million for staple food allowance, medicine allowance, hazard pay and weekly araw allowance and
• P225 million for Christmas bonus, grocery bonus, Revenue Performance Incentive Pay (RPIP) and Educational Assistance Bonus (EAB).

“The disallowances issued for the period [of 2018] amounting to P811.463 million represent payments of unauthorized benefits, unnecessary and extravagant expenses amounting to P519.925 million, P291.482 million and P56,540, respectively,” COA said.

“The cases are under appeal with the COA Commission Proper,” state auditors added.

The other half of the P2.067 billion of transactions disallowed by COA which occurred from 2013 to 2015 but remain unsettled to this day are the following:

• P209.7 million for payment of Christmas bonus, Christmas grocery bonus, Revenue Performance Incentive Pay (RPIP) and Educational Assistance bonus of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees in 2014
• P67.2 million for payment of staple food allowance, medicine allowance, Hazard Pay and Weekly Draw Allowance of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees in 2014
• P10 million payment of excess representation allowance and transportation allowance (RATA) and uniform allowance of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees in 2014
• P3.32 million payment of Weekly Draw Allowance to Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region branch’s officers and employees for the period December 30, 2012 to December 31, 2013
• P1.38 million payment of Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to Mindanao branch’s officers and employees for the period April to December 2013
• P1.46 million payment COLA to Visayas branch's officers and employees for the period April to December 2013
• P1.59 million payment of COLA to PCSO Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region branch’s officers and employees for the period April to December 2013
• P1.58 million payment of COLA to PCSO Northern and Central Luzon branch’s officers and employees for 2013
• P3.37 million payment of Weekly Draw Allowance to PCSO Northern and Central Luzon (NCL) branches’ officers and employees for the period December 30, 2012 to December 28, 2013
• P19.45 million payment of COLA of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees for 2013
• P33.54 million payment of Weekly Draw Allowance of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees for 2013
• P151.4 million payment of Christmas bonus, Christmas grocery bonus and Revenue Performance Incentive Pay (RPIP) of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees for CY 2013
• P38.49 million payment of staple food allowance, medicine allowance and hazard pay of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees for 2013
• P11 million payment of excess representation allowance and transportation allowance (RATA) and uniform allowance of PCSO Head Office's officials and employees for 2013
• P2.97 million payment of Weekly Draw Allowance to PCSO Mindanao Branches employees for 2013
• P3.14 million payment of Weekly Draw Allowance to PCSO Visayas Branches employees for 2013
• P1.899 million Benefits of Board of Directors, Draw Allowance for September 15, 2010 to December 31, 2011
• P621,000 Benefits of Board of Directors, Weekly Sweepstakes/Lottery Allowance for September 15, 2010 to December 31, 2011
• P4.38 million Benefits of Board of Directors, anniversary bonus, cash gift, 13th month pay, grocery bonus, Christmas bonus, educational assistance, productivity incentive pay, revenue performance incentive, clothing allowance from September 15, 2010 to December 31, 2011
• P590,625 Benefits of B Board of Directors, medical allowance, rice allowance, staple and hazard pay for September 15, 2010 to December 31, 2011
• P4.3 million representation allowance, gasoline allowance, COLA, Amelioration of Board of Directors for September 15, 2010 to December 31, 2011
• P1.95 million salaries of Board of Directors from September 15, 2010 to December 31, 2011
• P313.5 million payments of Special Share to the PCSO Provident Fund in 2011 under the PCSO Employee Mutual Benefit Fund
• P1.28 million Car Loan Assistance Plan for two PCSO Board of Directors
• P1.25 million payments of salaries, representation allowance, gasoline allowance, Lotto Draw Allowance, COLA and amelioration, rice allowance, hazard pay, staple food and medicine allowance to the Board of Directors from January to March 2012
• P2.71 million payments of the per diem to the PCSO Board of Directors for the months of March and April 2012 and per diem differential covering the period from February 2011 to March 6, 2012
• P27.429 million payment of Weekly Draw Allowance in 2012 to PCSO Head Office's permanent employees and officers and
• P24.4 million payment of COLA in 2012 to PCSO Head Office's permanent employees, casual employees and officers

Under the law or the PCSO Charter, the PCSO is mandated to raise and provide for funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character by conducting charity sweepstakes races, lotteries, and other similar activities “as shall be determined and subject to such rules and regulations as shall be promulgated by the Board of Directors.” —LDF, GMA News