AS the Brian Lim administration prepares to turn over the reins of the city government to the Belen Fernandez administration, it continues to be hounded by reported irregularities being uncovered by the Commission on Audit (COA).

In COA’s audit observation memorandum (AOM) for year 2021, it reported among others that individuals other than employees of the Dagupan City government were collecting fees and charges from local businessmen without issuing official receipts (ORs), a practice which appears to continue to this day.

The AOM, a copy of which was obtained by The Punch, recommended to the city government to conduct an investigation into the reported non-issuance of ORs by persons claiming to have authority but are not employees of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), and if proven to be true, the city’s legal office,  should “file appropriate charges against unscrupulous individual/s”.

The specific recommendation was one of several made by COA after observing that the imposition of fees, charges, taxes and permits were not in accordance with City Ordinance  No. 2089-2017, otherwise known as the Revenue Code of the City of Dagupan and with Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, that resulted in the city being deprived of “higher income that will resultantly create negative impact”.

Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlungsod at the instance of Councilor Teresa Coquia repeatedly invited Dagupan Market Supervisor Aguedo Sta. Maria to shed light on illegal collections and other reported  irregularities at the city’s public market but the latter ignored all invitations, reportedly at the instance of the city mayor’s office.

To stop the illegal collection of fees perpetrated by individuals not connected with the city government, COA recommended to require all collectors to wear uniforms with identification cards for easy identification by the businessmen, stall holders and vendors, and to conduct an information drive among stall owners and vendors of its  policy: “no receipt-no payment” and “no uniform, no payment”.

At the outset, COA already recommended to the Dagupan City government to assess and collect the correct fees in accordance with the city’s Revenue Code.

“We recommend that in order to increase collections or generate higher income and preserve the city’s good/positives image, the City Executive Officer (mayor) instructs the City Treasurer to implement the four salient provisions of City Ordinance Np. 2089-2017 known as the Revenue Code of Dagupan and RA 7160”.

City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara was contacted to comment on this matter but The Punch was told she was on leave. (Leonardo Micua)

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