Autonomous Muslim region officials told to explain unliquidated P500M

MANILA - Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have been asked to account for over P500 million in unliquidated cash advances.

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, vice-chairman of the finance committee, announced this yesterday during a hearing of the ARMM’s proposed P9.79-billion budget for 2009.

Ms. Santiago asked ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan to account for unliquidated cash advances of P269 million for Basilan, P152 million for Sulu, P800,000 for Lanao del Sur, P31.6 million for Tawi-Tawi and P78 million for Marawi City.

ARMM officials told the panel that the unliquidated cash advances were incurred during the previous administration, and not during the current administration that was elected in August.

Ms. Santiago asked Mr. Ampatuan to furnish a "complete physical inventory" of plants, properties and equipment of which P242 million remains unaccounted.

She added contrary to law, no public bidding was made for office supplies and equipment amounting to P52 million in Lanao del Sur and P800 million in Marawi City.

Ms. Santiago said the amount could have been used for the improvement of school facilities in ARMM, which lags behind other regions in terms of educational standards.

"Many ARMM schools are in the ’code red’, which means that there is a severe shortage of classrooms. The situation [in ARMM] right now is not only desperate but unacceptable," she said.

Mr. Ampatuan promised to act on the recommendations. (Bernard U. Allauigan / Business World)