The construction and trading company involved in almost PHP1 million purchase of hygiene kits, sanitary napkins by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) was nowhere to be found, reported Commission on Audit.
In its latest COA report, it said that state auditors conducted an inspection in Pasay City but the store was not located.
Several media outlets in the Philippines also showed that the address of the firm was a residential area.
COA said that an unnamed Deputy Administrator spent P1.26 million buying hygiene kits, sanitary napkins and thermal scanners from a construction and trading company in Pasay City.
The agency also noted that OWWA purchases sanitary napkins from the construction firm amounting to P10, P20, 30 per pad which is ‘very costly’. The agency says that napkin pads in sari-sari stores can be bought at P5 to P8 each.
State auditors also flagged why OWWA purchased bottled water and snack items from a caterer in Quezon City when these items are available in supermarkets or hypermarkets within the vicinity of Pasay City.
“The COA finding is not yet final. Deputy Administrator Faustino Sabarez III, who headed our ground operations during ECQ in 2020, is given a chance to explain his side and liquidate his cash advance,” OWWA Chief Hans Cacdac said in a statement.
The amount of P1.2M for the purchase of operations-related supplies was not sourced from the OWWA Trust Fund, but the General Appropriations Act,” Cacdac explained.
He also cleared Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson from malicious accusations.
“Lastly, Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson is not, in any way, involved in this isolated transaction,” he explained.
