GOVERNMENT auditors have called on the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) to remit idle funds totaling P196.85 million to the Bureau of Treasury, noting the money has not moved at all between three to six years.
According to the 2022 audit report, the funds were unspent or unused balance from cash released by the Department of Tourism since 2015 for the implementation of various projects and programs of the TPB.
A breakdown provided by the audit team showed P99.345 million were traced back to 2015 and prior years; P25.33 million in 2016; P177,141 in 2017; and P72 million in 2018.
“Verification showed that the said funds are still intact with the LBP (Land Bank of the Philippines) and is yet to be reverted/remitted to the BTr as of December 31, 2022,” auditors said.
The Commission on Audit reminded the TPB that the General Appropriations Act make it mandatory for government agencies to revert to the General Fund all unexpended balances from project implementation so the fund can be allocated to public expenditures in the succeeding year.
The Accounting Department of the TPB informed the COA that it had previously drawn a disbursement voucher specifically to revert the entire amount to the treasury.
However, once transmitted to the DOT in 2022 for approval and signature, the document was misplaced during the transition due to a change in administration.
“The Audit Team would like to emphasize that these funds are trust liabilities and are not available for use in the operations of the TPB. Hence, it would remain idle unless the same is reverted or remitted back to the BTr,” auditors said.
