Talisay’s city college, public market sucking up P48M funds

TALISAY City’s Talisay City College and Tabunok Public Market, its supposed economic enterprises, are crunching P48 million in local funds, according to the latest Commission on Audit Report.


“Three LEEs of the city such as the slaughterhouse, public market and TCC were operating at a loss in 2022 totaling to P48,108,457,42 due to unreasonably high maintenance/operating expenses, thus defeating the purpose for which these businesses were established,” said COA in its report published on its official website (coa.gov.ph).


From COA’s audit, it was found out that in 2022 the city’s slaughterhouse was earning P15,557,947.71 but was churning out P15,563,756.14 in public funds causing a net loss of P5,808.43. The public market bled the city’s coffers with P7.8 million in loses as it was only earning P10M but was spending P17.9M. The TCC, which has been operating for two decades already, was only collecting P46M but was spending P94.7M in public funds causing the city to bleed out P40 million of taxpayers’ money. 


In 2021 of the three economic enterprises of Talisay only the slaughterhouse was earning, at P558,614.74, while the market used P9 million of public funds, and the TCC  P32.2 million. 


“…the larger chunk of expenses incurred were for the personal services and benefits, honorarium and other maintenance and operating expenses which could have been avoided had proper planning and management have been implemented to ensure that these LEEs effectively contribute to the attainment of their respective development goals and objectives,” COA noted.


COA said the city justified the slaughterhouse’s losses “because of the disruption of operations caused by Typhoon Odette.” TCC, meanwhile, has yet to receive its subsidy from the national government. As for the market, the City Treasurer’s Office and the Market Administrator “will conduct a thorough checking of the records of all market vendors and stall holders…” 

 

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