The municipal government of Pandan has complied with a provision of the Local Government Code requiring legislative assent before the local chief executive could hire job order employees.
Following receipt of an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) regarding the failure of the LGU to support claims for wages of JO workers with complete documentation in 2018, the Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution authorizing the mayor and the vice mayor to hire such employees for 2019.
The municipal accountant also promised that the job order agreement, Daily Time Records and accomplishment reports would be submitted to COA.
The action came after the government watchdog discovered that the payrolls for wages of the JO employees were not supported with the aforesaid documents as well as an authorization from the municipal council pursuant to Section 77 of the Local Government Code.
“The lack of supporting documents raised doubts on the legality of the said transactions,” the auditors stated,
The 2018 audit report also recommended that management prioritize the programs, projects and activities to be done.
“Only those offices that actually need job order workers shall hire assistants in order to avoid unnecessary government expenses,” it added. “The LCE shall monitor and control strictly the hiring of Job Order workers performing utility, clerical and administrative functions based on necessity.”
Job Orders refer to piece of work (pakyaw) or intermittent or emergency jobs such as clearing of debris on the road, canals, waterways, etc. after natural or man-made disasters and other manual/trades and crafts services such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and the like, the COA explained.
“These jobs are of short duration and for a specific piece of work,” it said.
However, contract of services and JO workers should not, in any case, be made to perform functions which are part of the description of the agency’s existing regular employees, the commission stressed.
In another finding, the COA noted that out of the 31 prioritized projects for the P34.62-million 20% Development Fund, only eight were implemented or 25.80 percent as of 2018 year-end.
The LGU explained that this was due to its prioritization of the projects funded out of the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) and Assistance to Disadvantages Municipalities (ADM) and the lack of manpower of the engineering office to prepare the plans and programs of work.
On the other hand, only two of the 15 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) projects under disaster prevention and disaster preparedness were fully implemented.
Other significant findings of the audit were the following: non-collection of P2.7 million in additional Real Property and Special Education Taxes; funds amounting to P318,575 released to Tabugoc Farmers and Fisherfolks Association for its broiler production and marketing project lacked complete documentary requirements; and, failure to remit in full the taxes withheld from suppliers and contractors.