Former Narra Mayor Lucena Demaala, in a phone interview with Palawan Daily News on Monday, said that the local government unit (LGU) has enough budget to cover spending and other expenditures needed by the new administration.
According to the former mayor, she intentionally published a copy of the financial report on social media to stop allegations and controversies from political rivals that she used up the funds left under her management for the disbenefit of the new administration.
Demaala also stated that during her incumbency, the LGU required that each office, including departments and agencies, makes a quarterly budget allotment intended for approval by COA.
“Sila kasi, mula noong umupo, wala kasi silang ibang sinasabi kundi ininvest ni mayor Demaala ang pera at pondo ng munisipyo, pero under COA regulation, sa budgeting process, quarterly ang allotment. Sa quarterly allotment alam mo kung anong pangangailangan mo sa 1st to 4th quarter,” Demaala said.
Demaala also disclosed that the Comission on Audit (COA) did an internal review concerning the complete financial budget allotment of the town from January to June 30, 2019, her last day at office. The internal audit, according to Demaala, was not just done for Narra, but also amongst all other LGUs subjected for a change in administration.
“It is mandatory under the part of COA na kapag nagkaroon nga ng bagong mayor, from January to June noong umalis kami, magkakaroon ng internal audit para ma-assume na hindi na veto ng outgoing mayor ‘yung kaban ng bayan,” Demaala said.
Palawan Daily News managed to get a copy of the financial report furnished and signed by COA regional state auditor Norma Racelis, wherein, it can be seen that the Narra LGU, as of June 30, 2019, had a total fund of P296.3 million.
Demaala stressed that she received a copy of COA’s financial report of the internal audit on Saturday, stating that funds were enough to be utilized for projects and programs of the current administration, including on-going projects initiated by her administration, which need to be continued now under the governance of Narra incumbent Mayor Gerandy Danao.
Demaala added that COA also made an internal audit every end of the year during her tenure, and that the LGU has additional savings left, which they allocated as budget for other potential projects and programs intended for the incoming year.
“Sa katunayan, every end of the year, pagkatapos ng audit, nagkakaroon kami noon ng savings. Savings noong 2013 and 2018, kasama na ‘yung daily, kasi daily offer ‘yan. ‘Yung mga projects noong 2018 na hindi pa na-undergoe, naka-transfer ‘yan including sa economic enterprise. ‘Yan ay hindi namin puwedeng galawin,” Demaala said.