COA: Consolacion distributed P15-million cash aid with insufficient docs

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MONEY meant to help the sick and hospitalized in Consolacion is now under the microscope.

The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged nearly P15.93 million in financial assistance after finding that many transactions lacked complete supporting documents.

In its 2024 audit observation, COA said the municipality charged the questioned amount to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Gender and Development (GAD), and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWD) funds.

Auditors reviewed aid granted to constituents, with individual amounts ranging from P2,000 to P110,000 depending on the type of assistance.

The aid included burial support, medication, hospital expenses, and limited educational or livelihood assistance.

Records show that Consolacion spent P15,929,816.21 in 2024 alone on medical- and hospital-related aid. GAD financial assistance accounted for P7.39 million, followed by AICS cash aid worth P4.41 million.

Other expenses included P3.2 million for AICS medical assistance, P782,958.94 for AICS hospital aid, and P134,500 from other AICS programs.

COA noted that the municipality either paid hospitals and diagnostic centers directly or released hospital aid to immediate family members of indigent patients.

The municipal disbursing officer delivered other forms of financial aid through checks or cash advances.

Most transactions relied only on inter-office memoranda, MSWD-issued eligibility certificates, and barangay certificates of indigency.

Key documents, such as case and assessment forms, medical abstracts, prescriptions, validation reports, and other requirements under Consolacion’s Citizens’ Charter, were largely missing.

COA highlighted that the charter lists at least eight required documents for medical and hospitalization aid, but only the certificate of indigency appeared consistently in the vouchers reviewed.

MSWD officials said the Mayor’s Office initially validates beneficiaries and documents, determines aid amounts, and issues an inter-office memorandum.

They added that, under the Data Privacy Act, detailed medical records remain confidential in their office and are not attached to vouchers.

COA said the lack of complete and verifiable documents prevented auditors from confirming whether the assistance was properly granted.

The commission recommended that the municipal accountant ensure all required documents are checked before processing payments or liquidations.

During a random check on May 27, 2025, auditors observed that medical abstracts were inconsistently attached, and required medicine quotations were replaced with handwritten prices on prescriptions, including some that could not be verified.(MyTVCebu)