The Commission on Audit (COA) criticized the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for buying hygiene products worth P1.269 million from a construction store and trading company.
In the COA’s audit report, it was said that an OWWA deputy administrator’s purchase of hygiene kits, sanitary napkins, and thermal scanners at unknown drugstores or supermarkets was questionable.
“Out of the P2,011,441.90 covered by LR No. FM-OWWA 07-10.4, the propriety and regularity of the expenditures charged to the CA (cash advance) of the Deputy Administrator totaling P1,269,920 is doubtful due to the awarding of the procurement transactions not to reputable drugstores and supermarkets,” the report said.
“This is an indication that OWWA’s resources were not expended in accordance with rules and regulations and is contrary to Section 2, PD No. 1145,” COA added.
According to the COA, OWWA paid P962,920 to purchase products at MRCJP Construction and Trading with an address in Pasay City.
However, the establishment could not be found at the address shown on the receipt.
COA flags OWWA for buying hygiene kits from the construction store
“It is unlikely that these items were brought from a store which deals with construction supplies or hardware, considering that the Mercury drugstore is just around the vicinity of OWWA,” said COA.
The agency also criticized that hygiene kits costing P160 were not itemized, while napkins were purchased at P10 to P30 per pad. As a result, it is more expensive than the P5-P8 that can be bought in stores.
Meanwhile, thermal scanners were bought for P2,950 per unit, even though they can be bought on the internet for P400 to P800.
The COA further said that the agency also purchased bottled water and snacks worth a total of P300,000 from a caterer with a business address in Quezon City.
“These items are available in supermarkets/hypermarkets within the vicinity of Pasay City,” said COA.
The COA instructed the unnamed deputy administrator to explain and verify the correctness of such transactions.
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