NEGROS Occidental Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr. confirmed Wednesday that Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan received a notice of suspension from the Commission on Audit (COA) this month for various programs worth about P5 million implemented by his office in 2015.
Escalante, chairman of Provincial Board committee on appropriations, budget, finance, ways and means, said that Tabianan failed to submit the list of recipients of corn seeds, rice, and high-value crops to COA.
The COA ordered Tabianan to submit the detailed list of beneficiaries.
Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the notice served to Tabianan was the result of last year’s audit report.
He said the Provincial Board called the attention of Tabianan and Provincial Accountant Merle Fortu during the recent budget hearing to shed light on the matter.
Lacson added that Tabianan assured them that he will provide the list of recipients.
Lacson said that he was the one who signed the check of the project as he was the designated governor that time.
Also this month, Tabianan was ordered by the COA to return the amount of P299,000 spent for the fertilizer project implemented by his office in 2013 after he failed to comply with the required documents.
The COA issued Tabianan a final suspension order this month while the notice of disallowance was issued on July 21, 2014.
The audit agency said that Tabianan failed to submit the list of farmers who received the fertilizers, the purchase order, and the Bids and Awards Committee resolution recommending the mode of procurement.
The COA also questioned why Tabianan was able to pursue the project despite the absence of contract or purchase order entered into by the province and the supplier.
Since the payment for the fertilizer was made before the purchase request was properly accomplished, it showed “irregularity in the transaction,” the COA noted.
Tabianan had earlier said there was no anomaly in the purchase of fertilizers.
Provincial Administrator Leonardo Eusebio said Tuesday that the P299,000 amount will be paid by Tabianan through salary deduction or in cash.